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2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
This is why we constantly look on social networks and do not finish the work to the end.
Productivity is a very important characteristic of a successful person, but it is not easy to achieve. We are constantly distracted by work and household affairs, notifications on a smartphone, software updates, new letters.
At the same time, studies show The Cost of Interrupted Work: More Speed and Stress that after a distraction, it takes a person about 23 minutes on average to plunge into work again. That's a few hours of wasted time per week.
It is surprising that some of the properties of our brain are the reason for such a waste of time.
1. Propensity to take action
The human brain is designed in such a way that he almost constantly wants to perform some kind of active action. Monotonous and time-consuming tasks make him bored. So we flip through Twitter while we watch TV shows, and chat with friends during a meeting.
But constantly switching between tasks hurts effective work. According to Multitasking: Switching costs scientists, multitasking reduces productivity by about 40%.
This is a form of procrastination. When we encounter obstacles such as difficult or boring work, we often switch to something less dull. This improves the mood, but the original task remains unfulfilled, and soon we begin to feel more and more guilt for our own unproductiveness.
How to resist it
The first step is to acknowledge the problem. This will help you see the big picture and reduce stress. Procrastination is just a brain reflex, and it makes no sense to reproach yourself for it.
The second step is to begin the task. It is not necessary to complete it or even make significant progress in its implementation. The very fact that you have taken action will motivate you to keep going.
2. Limited willpower
It seems to us that for the timely execution of all matters, willpower is needed. This is partly true, but the amount of self-control that is allocated to us for the day is not infinite.
It’s easy to ignore intrusive smartphone notifications and the brain’s desire to be distracted only for the first few hours. Few people will be able to hold out in this mode until the evening. Self-discipline, work and all the small things that have to be done in a day, energy is wasted, and it is limited.
How to resist it
To restore strength and have enough for the day, you need to get enough sleep. Meditation is also good: it increases concentration and helps you better understand yourself.
But the most effective way is to get rid of temptations. Disable all useless notifications on gadgets, leave only healthy food at home, and minimize annoying factors during work.
3. Dependence on hormones
Another brain mechanism that interferes with efficient work is its dependence on dopamine and oxytocin. Dopamine is a hormone that induces feelings of satisfaction. Many actions can stimulate its development, including obtaining new information.
This is why we constantly want to check social media feeds. All these events from the life of unfamiliar people and funny pictures are perceived by the brain as something new, so they bring pleasure.
Oxytocin is a hormone that induces feelings of trust and social acceptance. Social networks influence its development through comments, likes, reposts and retweets. Every time we see that someone liked our post, we perceive it as strengthening social relations and we feel good about it.
How to resist it
As with willpower, the easiest option is to turn off useless notifications while you work. You can also use applications that block unproductive services and sites, such as Freedom.
Another way out is to communicate more often with people in reality, best of all with relatives and friends. Socialization also triggers the production of oxytocin. And dopamine can be obtained by consuming more useful information than posts on social networks. Read books related to your professional field. Unsubscribe from everything on the Internet, except for the accounts and pages you really need.
The more hormones you get from useful actions in real life, the less often you will check social networks.
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