Tag: distraction

The Redemption of Distraction:

It would be foolish to decry all distraction as if they themselves were the root of our intermittent concentration. Indeed, the issue is not that we allow too many dings, bells, and whistles to superficially interrupt our day, but that we do not adequately leverage distraction, like the chimes of the monastic, to pull us back to the effort of focussed labour.

That’s a fantastic way to look at it. via Pat Dryburgh

Tea and the Art of Distraction

There are so many productivity tools and philosophies out there, but it ultimately comes down to our own inner compass and ability to stay on track with whatever we are doing. And the key to that is the ability to be aware.

Tea and the Art of Distraction – 4 Easy Steps.

The distraction trope. Every new technology brings distraction, but only for a time. The distraction will pass and wonderful possibilities await if we believe that the person next to us is not merely distracted by the latest shiny toy.

I, Reader

“I, Reader” is a great essay about reading, books, and digital devices. One of my favorite bits:

If you were to ask me what I thought I was doing in checking news sites on the internet as many as eight to 10 times per day, starting with the election in 2004, I would tell you I thought I was keeping myself safe. Especially late at night, I felt like I was on night watch for the forces that would eventually put George Bush back in power one more time. It felt like a vigil.

Found via Daring Fireball.

Merlin Mann writes about “distraction-free software” and its problems:

[It is bad to be] leaving your starry-eyed customers with the nauseatingly misguided impression that their “distraction” originates from anyplace but their own busted-ass brain is really not “helping.” Not on any level. It is, literally, harmful.