1.
HOW
TO
BEAT
DISTRACTION

2.
WARNING!!! This workshop requires
WILLPOWER!

3.
“It’s not information overload. It’s filter
failure.”
― Clay Shirky
Image CC BY 2.0 © Joi http://bit.ly/1mCFN14

4.
Objectives of the workshop
• The problem of digital distraction/information
overload
• Your own digital distractions - Room 101
• Solutions*
• Technologies to help with digital distraction
*Not every solution will work for everyone
Not all solutions may be right for you, requires willpower.

5.
We each leave behind us a vast ‘data trail’ every time we
travel, use our phone or credit card, search or buy online,
use social media or visit a supermarket. That data adds up,
making up part of the 2.5 billion gigabytes of data –
equivalent to 67.5 billion Encyclopedia Britannicas -
created across the world every day.

6.
Anyone here spend time
doing nothing but this?

7.
The best Web page in the world?

8.
The fear of NOT being connected

9.
Beware the hyperlink
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vituperata duo. Iuvaret petentium te mei, est te omnesque accusata. Falli propriae sed ea.
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placerat pro. Mei ex quis agam, vidit simul efficiendi id per. Sea at quidam contentiones. Alii simul
constituto an nam. Ne quo semper detraxit eloquentiam, per soleat theophrastus at, ex mea partem
antiopam.
Disruption and Recovery of Computing Tasks: Field Study, Analysis, and Directions
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/horvitz/chi_2007_iqbal_horvitz.pdf

10.
What are your digital distractions?
Image CC BY Davis Staedtler http://bit.ly/1KD81yk

11.
Mine are
1.Email
2.Myself
3.Others

12.
Image CC BY David Goehring
http://bit.ly/1KHqPMS
Multitask?

13.
Cognitive control in media multitaskers. E Ophir, C Nass, AD Wagner.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106 (37), 15583-15587

14.
What some of the big fish do
• Google – No more than 10 people at a
meeting
• Reily Media – Have standing up meetings
• Founder of Tumblr David Karp doesn’t read
email first hour of every morning
• IBM – No email periods

15.
Filter #1
Filter emails before they arrive

16.
Filter #2
Find the emails you really want

17.
Filter #3
Delete emails on your phone forever!

18.
Filter #4

19.
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-20609-7_68 [Last Accessed 28/10/2015]

20.
Filter #5
Relax! You’ll Be More Productive
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/opinion/sunday/relax-youll-be-more-productive.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1&

21.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/opinion/sunday/relax-youll-be-more-productive.html?_r=0 [Last Accessed 26/10/2015]

22.
Colleagues in ScHARR
“ I find meditation helps to focus on what matters: what is really happening now, what is my purpose
and how can I respond in a more kindly way to whatever is happening.”*
“Meditation literally gives me 'head-space' and a release from thinking about the stress of our
increasingly busy lives, and the constant intrusion of technology that is eroding the boundaries
between work life and home life. Meditation using mindfulness techniques provides the tranquility
and nourishment my mind needs to keep it healthy in the same way my body needs exercise and
a healthy diet.”
“I find meditation help not only calm my mind but also increase its ability to concentrate on an
object. Performing mindfulness helps me touch the present moment; be less distracted or
disturbed by thoughts about the past or the future; be able to focus more on the task I am doing;
and be able to listen to others and help them to be with the present moment as well.”
“I find that after the 20 min session on a Wed lunchtime, my thoughts are more organised and I am
more productive.*”
“I find it hugely 'levelling'. I am less critical of myself and others which gives me tons more space to
enjoy what I am doing by simply being immersed in it.”
“I can wake up with lots of brief thoughts presenting themselves and find that meditation quietens
this down and I can enjoy doing one thing at a time plus decide more easily what order to tackle
things.”
I find that during the day, I am able to close my eyes for 1 min or so and rebalance or refocus
myself and get rid of unhelpful thoughts. I find it very helpful if I have a lot on or need to deal with
challenges. It gives me the energy and focus required.
* Both Professors

23.
Do you practise
meditation/mindfulness?
What are your experiences?
If not, why not?

24.
Useful meditation/mindfulness
resources
• Headspace - Website. IOS, Android, Kindle
App. iTunes. Book. Podcast free/subscription
• Take a Break (Guided meditations for stress
relief) - IOS, Android App
• Calm - Website. IOS, Android App. Book
• Buddhify - IOS, Android App

25.
If you use them right
Filter #6

26.
Filter #7 IFTTT

27.
Filter #8 Readability

28.
Filter #9 leave your desk behind
Image © Turnitin http://turnitin.com/en_us/features/ipad

29.
Filter #10 Find a quiet focused place

30.
Filter #11 Curate your interests

31.
Filter #12 Unroll

32.
Filter #13 Have a Walking meeting

33.
Image CC BY 2.0 © cheetah100 http://bit.ly/1h5JZ4w

34.
“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning
and nothing worse will happen to you
the rest of the day.”
Mark Twain

35.
Image CC BY 2.0 © Jussi Linkola http://bit.ly/1LZzFYt

36.
30:30 App
http://3030.binaryhammer.com/

37.
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/ask/ [Last Accessed 28/1/0/2015]

38.
Stay FocusdAvailable on Chrome Web Store
Image CC BY 2.0 © Artondra Hall http://bit.ly/20cAhna

39.
Other useful productivity tools
https://en.todoist.com/ Windows, Mac, IOS,
Android, Web
https://www.wunderlist.com/ Windows, Mac,
IOS, Android, Web
https://www.rememberthemilk.com/
Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Blackberry

40.
Things for you to try
Leave your phone at home
Go for a walking meeting
Go work in the library
Try meditating (even for just a minute)

41.
• The effect of music listening on work performance
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/business/LESIUKarticle2005.pdf
• The Effect of Student Music Choice on Writing Productivity.
http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED448472
Music to work to – ScoopIt! Page
http://www.scoop.it/t/background-music