Ignore that buzz: Identify, understand and tackle digital distractions to become more productive
Ramanathan J
Independently Published
2019
nidottu
If you are reading this, chances are high that you are a digital data consumer. You might be using your computer or your laptop that has a high-speed internet connection. You would have multiple tabs on your internet browser and each of these tabs correlate to a specific train of thought that you would be having at present. Some of these tabs could also have applications that you use for distraction. Finally, you would most likely have a smartphone nearby your location. This smartphone would constantly seek your attention by buzzing message alert sounds and by displaying blinking lights for new notifications. You may say that staying digitally connected is crucial in today's information age for getting our work done and for contacting other people. However, do you constantly need to depend on digital data consumption in order to get your work done and to contact your friends? When does digital data consumption become a distraction at the cost of your other important priorities or tasks? Which apps or websites hinder your productivity throughout the day from the moment you wake up? Ignore That Buzz is a no-nonsense and precise guide that identifies the key players of digital distraction. This guide will provide specific insights and strategies that can help you to tackle various forms of digital distraction which in turn will boost your productivity in a dramatic manner. This book will cover the following topics: Understand how your brain uses a limited amount of energy reserves at its disposal to attend to an overwhelming number of tasks throughout a day by applying muscle memory and habit forming behaviours. How social media companies rely on the habit forming behaviour that is inherent in every human being to increase user engagement for their applications? How individuals form entrenched habits, including those related to consuming digital distractions, when they follow the multiple stages of habit forming process in an unconscious manner?How digital distractions are different from other activities such as drinking coffee couple of times or having a casual chat with a colleague, co-worker or friend in a day? Understand how digital distractions regularly feed on the limited cognitive reserves of an individual.How instant messaging apps distract you from your other priorities throughout the day? Identify simple strategies to stop responding impulsively to instant messaging chats and to become more productive.How Facebook can be a formidable digital distraction that can lead you down a never ending rabbit hole of status update posts, likes and comments? Identify the most effective technique to tackle this alluring social media distraction.How Twitter compels you to become a part of the hashtag rat race? Identify techniques to skip becoming a part of trend following herd in order to utilize your time for quality activities. Understand how YouTube is like a cable television with infinite number of channels. Identify simple techniques to prevent YouTube from becoming a digital distraction. Identify strategies to ensure that games on smartphone, computers or consoles do not affect your other priorities. Understand the importance of your morning schedule and why it is important for you to keep your morning tasks free of digital consumption.
