In the United States, slot machines make more money than baseball, movies, and game parks combined. Tristan Harris talks about this in his TEDxBrussels from December last year. Even though slot machines use coins (small amounts of money), they still make big bucks. It happens because it is so addictive to play the machines. Harris says the every time we check our phones, refresh our inbox page or social media content feed, we’re pulling the slot machine lever, waiting to see what we’re going to get.
Even though we know that we’re wasting time by using our phones and computers as slot machines, we still do it. Harris spent many years analysing how to increase productivity and how to tackle procrastination. He argues that we can’t renounce technology because we’ll fear that we’re missing out on the important stuff and if we’ll stay connected to everything we won’t be productive. Harris thinks designers can help us out, by giving us a third option. We can remain connected but design technology to protect our focus. Technology can let our coworkers and clients know that we’re focusing for 30 minutes or one hour and hold their calls, text messages, chat messages for when we’ll be available again.
Harris isn’t the first to talk about the necessity of protecting our focus. Others are even thinking about a real-life solution to the problem of constant interruptions. Wired In is a startup that creates light signs to place on your desk to let people know that you’re focusing on your work, and they should come back later.
People are trying to find better ways to fight distractions because the workplace is becoming a place where people are physically present but where work doesn’t get done. Working from home is becoming a solution because it takes out of the equation all in-person interruptions, allowing workers to focus on the task at hand, increasing their overall productivity and satisfaction. If you haven’t, take a moment of your day to watch Jason Friend’s TED talk: Why work doesn’t happen at work.
