"Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things." -- Henry David Thoreau, American philosopher "It is very difficult to be learned; it seems as if people were worn out on the way to great thoughts, and can never enjoy them because they are too tired." -- George Eliot, British novelist Inattentiveness and impulsivity aren't just symptoms of psychological disorders like ADD and OCD; indeed, they also apply to many people in the workplace. The go-go-go nature of modern business, with its constant stress and distraction, drives this pseudo-disorder—and it'll kill productivity if you let it. External factors like background noise, foot traffic, visitors, and ringing phones jerk you out of your productive trance, while internal distractions such … [Read more...]
