Imagine being told you need to check your email 145 times daily. It sounds absurd, yet according to Brian Tracy’s book, The Science of Motivation, this is the average frequency for most adults, inadvertently sapping their productivity. Nowadays, we can say checkin your email is the equivalent to checking your social media.
The Science Behind Distractions
This compulsive behavior is not arbitrary. Each email sent or received triggers a small release of dopamine in our bodies, akin to the stimulation from certain drugs, offering a fleeting sensation of pleasure. This biological reward system keeps us glued to our inboxes, texts, and social media, continuously seeking the next dopamine hit.
However, this incessant digital activity has a downside. According to USA Today, the continuous engagement with these platforms gradually exhausts our brain, leading to a potential drop of about 10 IQ points by day’s end. This cognitive depletion manifests as indecision and mental fog, making even simple choices, like selecting a dinner menu or a TV show, feel overwhelming.
Practical Solutions for Avoiding Distractions
So, how can we reclaim our time, energy, and brainpower? Start by limiting email checks or social media logins to thrice daily, handling all correspondence in one go, and then disengaging completely. Unless your job demands constant email monitoring, this approach helps in cutting down distractions, freeing up time and mental space for more meaningful activities and decisions.
Extend this strategy to all digital platforms, including social media. The decreased screen time not only reduces brain fatigue, enhancing cognitive abilities and decision-making capacities but also contributes to overall happiness and well-being.
I use a free Chrome extension called News Feed Eradicator that hides my newsfeed and replaces it with a motivational quote. This way, when I’m using social media for work to audit an account, respond to DMs or post in one of my groups – I don’t have any distractions.
The Path to Enhanced Productivity and Happiness
Adopting these habits may initially feel challenging, especially given the addictive nature of digital interactions. Yet, the benefits of reduced digital engagement – more time, increased energy, enhanced mental clarity, and augmented productivity – far outweigh the initial discomfort.
In minimizing these distractions, you pave the way for a more focused, efficient, and satisfying daily life, unburdened by the constant noise and interruptions of incessant notifications and updates. The regained time and energy can then be channeled into activities and pursuits that genuinely enrich your life, contributing to holistic growth, happiness, and well-being.
So, take the leap today. Restrict those email and social media checks, reclaim your time and mental energy, and rediscover the joys of uninterrupted focus and enhanced productivity. The path to a more fulfilled and balanced life is just a click away – or rather, fewer clicks away!
Throughout my life there have been fundamental beliefs, ideas and principles that have helped me achieve success in many respects. I’ve benefited from many different schools of thought and learned from mentors of all different backgrounds and philosophies. The way I live my life and the concepts I teach are a reflection of these different points of view.
