Staying Focused While Using The Internet
As software engineer, I use a computer every day. Seven days a week. It’s no secret either that a growing number of careers are requiring workers to use computers as a part of their job. Of course most, if not all, of these computers they’ll be using are internet connected. This means that companies are asking their employees to use the same machine and technology they use to check their facebook, send email, and watch YouTube to perform meaningful work. For serious internet users, this is sometimes easier said than done, especially with my next task unclear.
It’s been said before: everybody procrastinates. Even the people with the most detailed of organizational systems struggle with procrastination, usually for fear of even having to look at that seemingly endless to-do list. Life can get overwhelming, as we all know, but it’s during those times that its most important to remain focused and in control of the things that need to be done. At times when it seems impossible to get anything done, try visualizing that feeling you get when everything is going your way.
Think about the last time you were “in the zone”. By that, I mean think of the last time where you were working on something, and you couldn’t think of anything but what you were working on. When you felt like nothing could break your focus. This state, called flow, is crucial to performing at your highest level and is defined as “completely focused motivation”. Anything that you can do to help yourself achieve this state of mind should be made habit.
What is your average computer session is like? My web browser is open at all times, which means I’m only an CTRL+T and f-a-c-e-[enter] away from a black hole of pointless browsing 45 minutes long. Being able to identify bad habits such as these and intercept the distraction before you turn your attention from the task at hand. Make it a habit to consciously acknowledge these urges to get leave your task and do whatever you can to resist. If you can close the browser tab before facebook loads and switch back to what you were working on quickly, it’s usually still possible to get back on track quickly. Frustration, anxiety, and depression all bar the mind from obtaining this flow. Identifying sources of these three things may help in your journey to increase your focus and help you get more things done. Software like RescueTime can help you monitor possible time-wasting websites by recording how long you spend on them. Every week you’ll be emailed a report on your browsing habits. The report can be very eyeopening, showing you every minute you’ve spent browsing.
Try eliminating pop-up notifications and email alerts, as they can derail good flow in an instant. Because achieving flow isn’t as easy as losing it, it’s very important that you do whatever you can to maintain your state of flow. If receiving these alerts in a timely manner is important to you, then get in the habit of checking it as needed manually, but not before you’ve gotten some work done. This will at least help you from being interrupted unexpectedly.
People who aren’t at an internet-connected computer all day may not experience these mentioned types of distractions. However, when I’m working on something I’m not focused on a particular task, it can sometimes feel like Opera is yelling for me. “Hey Cody! Come check your GMail. It’ll only take a second!” Maybe it’s the internet addiction.
Regardless, once you’ve taken action to identify these detours, you’ll find yourself becoming more aware of what good and bad habits as you’re working, as well as more time spent in flow. The moment in time at which these pieces come together is when you have successfully begun training your brain to better focus. All it takes is a little conscientious reflection on your own habits.