Growing up digital and the High Cost of Now

Seth Godins post on the high cost of now got me reflecting on how my younger staff and nephews are constantly glued to their phones and instant messaging clients. I hear the alarms, nudges, “sup” questions and pokes going off all day.

I see a lot of the ME or pure digital generation accept these interrupts as simply part of day-to-day life in today’s hyper-connected, always on world. I am the first to admit, I like to stay in the know – the US election and situation in Canada right now are simply hard to resit.

A word of advise for when you enter the workforce. Think long and hard about what you are doing with these interruptions. They have a cost, and their implications need to be weighed throughout your day:

- they can drain on your concentration and ability to deliver on tasks and projects

- they can create the wrong perception about being focused at work…despite the fact you made up for lost time by working into the evening or at home

- using these devices during meetings may suggest you are not focused or worse, you are bored with the subject matter.

My advice for all these distraction?

1) mute your email and instant message alarms

2) turn off your SMS alarm when you are working on defined projects or tasks

3) answer email at defined intervals during the day

Take a step back and give yourself the breathing room to get your work done. Then reward yourself by getting back in the now through active listening and posting on your lunch or break.

The disciplined can turn these alarms off and resist the urge to be interupted, lose focus and ultimately get derailed from their concentration.