Squirrel!

"Squirrel with kernel of corn" by Pearl Photo is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

There you are—working in flow. Then "bing," "ring," or "buzz." The sounds of notifications clamor for your attention just like squirrels to a nearby dog. One little check of my phone, a short call, or a quick jump to another project won't cause you problems. You'll be back in flow and finish the task at hand. I am a great multitasker! Right? 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but multitasking really isn't a thing. The older I get, the more I am reminded daily, if not hourly or by the minute, that I cannot perform multiple functions. My "squirrel" distraction mode has moved to hyper mode, and my ability to return to the previous task is fleeting. 

As much as we would like to think we can do more than one thing at a time, our brains/bodies are not made to work that way. Add the information webs of the world and we get "spun up" and lost in a myriad of hyperlinks, endless "rabbit holes," and squirrel chasing. We are left with unfinished projects, dropped tasks, and a productivity sink hole.

I discussed this subject with a coworker recently in relation to the workplace. "Doing more with less" has lead to an inability to focus on one effort. Employees are pushed and pulled like taffy; instead of becoming more chewy, these individuals are becoming tough and unfit for service. We are burning our people out by distractions beyond their control. Detailers are forced to leave just when they begin to find flow after being distracted by all that needed done. There is so much to do that productivity takes a back seat to mere survival. Good employees are leaving good organizations because they feel they must for their mental and physical health.

There are solutions, but we have to be willing to dramatically change the way we have done things. 

• We must acknowledge there is something wrong.
• We must be committed to change.
• We must give each other grace and space for flow.
• We must slow down and focus.
• We must be willing to cut ties with our devices and practice the art of being present. Unlearning the behaviors we have nurtured for so long is hard (harder still when you get older and your attention goes the way with your hair color). 
• We have to be willing to ask for help and defer to expertise.
• We must find efficiencies and not "reinvent wheels."
• We have to be willing to stick to a routine and make sure others know we have and respect that routine. 
• We have to lead by example so others can learn. You are the leader; you create the foundation for the environment in which those you interact function.
• Address the "attention residues" affecting your productivity. (See below.)

Wildland Fire Leadership Challenge - Digging a Little Deeper

• Read Sahil Bloom's article "Attention Residue - The Productivity Killer."
• Identify the hours in the day when you are most productive. 
• Assess and journalize the distractions affecting your productivity.
• Remove all distractions during this time, even if for just short periods of time.
• Be present with your productivity time. Avoid the distractions. Give your full attention to the task at hand.
• Let others know about your "do-not-disturb time."
• Take time to refresh between tasks, even simply standing up and stretching. We need time to reset.
• Reassess often.