The Unplugged Experiment
I'm going unplugged, and I believe you should too.
For a minimum of four hours every work day, I'm going off the grid to regain focus, improve productivity, create more value and concentrate on what's most important in business (and life).
The Problem
We have become a society consumed with connectivity — much to our own detriment, and that of our employers, clients, co-workers, friends and family. We are wasting time and money at alarming rates, instead of focusing our energy on what matters.
Unfortunately, while many of us think that we are increasing our value and productivity with our always wired lifestyles, the inverse is actually true, especially if your job requires regular strategic and creative thinking.
We are so focused on meeting short-term demands for our time and attention that we have lost sight of the higher priority outputs that will build our careers and businesses, and make us better and happier people.
The Distractors
“Studies show that a person who is interrupted takes up to 50 percent longer to accomplish a task. Not only that, he or she makes up to 50 percent more errors.” — Dr. John Medina, Brain Rules
We suffer from channel and information overload. At any given moment during business hours (and often after) we are connected through an array of channels competing for our attention — Twitter, Facebook, Internet, TV, chat, email, phone, text, Skype, Intranet — not to mention face-to-face time and meetings. In essence, we're always distracted, or anticipating distraction, and therefore never performing at our peak, and never achieving flow (to learn more about flow, read Daniel Pink's classic, DRIVE).
These channels are important to our daily lives, and our ability to consume information, communicate, produce and grow. However, as Dr. John Medina explains in Brain Rules, our minds are wired to work and think sequentially, not simultaneously. In other words, it is biologically impossible for us to give our full attention to more than one task at once.
We cannot process Twitter alerts, email notifications, instant messages and texts, and still efficiently produce outputs. Plus, research has shown that every time we are interrupted, our brains take up to 45 minutes to refocus and resume a major task.[1]
And what's the tradeoff? We use our personal time (nights, weekends and vacations) to make up for lost productivity and poor efficiency.
The 6-Step Unplugged Plan
So what can we do about it? Here's what I propose, or at least the experiment I plan to begin immediately myself.
1) Unplug at regular (daily) intervals.
For a minimum of four hours every work day, I'm shutting off every non-essential application and focusing all of my energy and attention on priority tasks and projects. Obviously I'll be available for high-priority communications and meetings, but I need to commit to a schedule as much as possible.
We instituted agency-wide Productivity Blocks (9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.) in spring 2010 (after reading Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson), so I plan to use those as my standard daily unplugged sessions. They'll flex as needed, but that's a good place to start.
2) Create and communicate in bursts.
I’ll use the Productivity Blocks to create, and the other times to communicate. This will enable me to give people and projects the full attention they deserve, while using my time as efficiently as possible.
Hopefully I'll unlock some stifled creativity along the way, and become a better listener (which is something I've needed to work on anyway).
3) Eliminate channel and sensory overload.
Be honest: How often do you check and respond to emails, or take a quick look at Facebook or Twitter to distract yourself from work or delay pushing through a challenging project? I do it all the time, probably dozens of times per day.
Why? Because they're always open and accessible, and it's like recess for the mind. Besides, 10 minutes here and there is harmless, right? Wrong! We're cheating ourselves and anyone who relies on our production.
4) Get lost to find answers.
I'm going to adjust my routine a bit, and maybe seek out a change of scenery more often. Whether it's a local coffee shop, golf course or road trip, we need to quiet our minds and be inspired to think and create.
5) Reset expectations and priorities.
What percentage of communications (specifically calls and emails) are truly urgent? Of course there are exceptions, but I'd guess most of you are executives, entrepreneurs, marketing pros or students, and I'd guarantee the vast majority of those messages could wait an hour or two for a reply.
I know if I were paying someone for their creative work, I'd rather they spent 60 uninterrupted minutes straight on my project than 60 minutes over three hours with calls, emails, tweets and instant messages in between. I'll take efficiency with higher levels of creativity and attention every time. Some agencies/consultants will keep the meter running while allowing themselves to be constantly interrupted. When you're paying by the hour, that can be a costly situation.
6) Remember what matters.
I am consumed by a passion for our agency. Since the day I launched it nearly five years ago, I have cherished every waking second. The people and the moments have enriched my life, and I wouldn't trade them for the world.
But the agency doesn't define me. It is a means to a better life, for me and my co-workers. It affords us the opportunity to work with amazing people, build businesses and do remarkable things, but more importantly, it is our vehicle to create financial freedom so that we can enjoy our lives, improve the lives of those we care about and affect the causes we believe in.
The more productive and efficient we are, the more time we have for the things that truly matter.
How Will I Know if it Works?
Simple, really. I’m going to set goals, establish benchmarks and measure metrics that matter to my business and life. For example, I may track number of blog posts I publish (i.e. writing more), hours working on nights and weekends (i.e. spend more quality time with my family) and engagement in social networks (i.e. build more relationships and create more value).
Will You Unplug?
For the other compulsive multi-takers out there, I challenge you to unplug. No email, Blackberries, instant messaging, Skype calls, text messages or social networking during creative/production periods. Nothing but your task list and uninterrupted productivity.
What do you think? Is it practical or possible to unplug four hours per day? Do you have a productivity problem? Are you addicted to technology? Do you have a plan to evolve?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please share them in the comments section below.
[1] The Cost of Not Paying Attention: How Interruptions Impact Knowledge Worker Productivity, Jonathan B. Spira and Joshua B. Feintuch, Basex, 2005.
Paul Roetzer is founder and president of PR 20/20, a Cleveland-based inbound marketing agency and PR firm. He can be found on Twitter @PaulRoetzer.
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Comments
Steve James
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I've been thinking about this since our discussion at #HUG10 regarding productivity blocks. Jeff and I were just talking about this issue on the phone about 5 minutes ago regarding our workflow/social monitoring/deadlines/etc. so it's perfect timing that I happened to be on twitter (point taken on #3 above) and saw your post regarding this subject. I think this is something that all types of companies will struggle with over the coming years.
I'm all over this challenge and look forward to sharing this great post with others!
Paul Roetzer
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The Productivity Blocks were a huge first step for us. While there are always exceptions, they at least create the expectation internally that we are all going to focus and produce during relatively similar time periods each day.
That way we keep from interrupting each other, unless it's urgent, and give ourselves time to think and create.
Good luck with your workflow. And let me know how you do with the challenge!
Paul
Pedro
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Paul Roetzer
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We created productivity blocks in our agency earlier this year after hearing David and Jason of 37Signals talk at SXSW, and then reading their book, Rework.
In the book they have a section called, "Interruption is the enemy of productivity." They make a strong case for the importance of remaining focused and getting into the zone during work days.
This can be a difficult thing in team environments when communications and ideas are constantly flowing; however, we've found blocking off periods of our calendars each day as busy, and limiting interruptions such as instant messages and emails, enables us individually, and collectively, to be more creative and productive.
Hope that helps.
Derek
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Paul Roetzer
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Byron Fernandez
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Itâs a neat thing when technology reminds us that we are its architects. Since returning to Ohio from Vegas, I like to say I have had the momentary luxury of being sans vehicle and cellular phone. Your discussion of flow brought to mind how fleeting our understanding of space and time truly is, and how our efforts to dictate control can be ineffectual, at best inefficient.
So important to invoke balance and regroup. Chuck Palahniukâs onto something: the things we own so often end up owning us.
Tom Moehring
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I like this strategy, but I'd argue that it is only one piece of the productivity puzzle. In other words, just because someone is free to focus, does not mean they will focus or focus on the right things.
Eliminating distraction will certainly improve efficiency, but I'd guess it is effectiveness that you're really seeking. Stephen Covey has done a great deal of writing on this topic (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is one of his big claims to fame - I'd recommend it). He teaches about defining the key roles, both professional and personal, in our lives and focusing on activities within those roles... everything else is secondary. I think this video explains it pretty well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VDxKLSyksI (Titled Do The BIG Rocks first in youtube if the link doesn't work).
I translate this into my typical multi-tasking life to mean I not only need the all-important time to focus, but I need to define what I should be focusing on in order to be both efficient and effective.
Paul Roetzer
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Thanks for stopping by. Need to read up on my Covey!
Heidi
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Paul Roetzer
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Brandon Croke
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Thank you for writing this post. This is such an important topic and I'm surprised to hear so little on the subject. Let's see how long it takes me to write this comment before being disrupted :)
(2 hours later)
I'm curious if there's a market for digital productivity training or offering tools to help you manage your time more effectively. Perhaps something as valuable as social media training?
Sometimes at work I'll close my computer or go to a place away from my desk to try and get into a "productivity zone", however I always feel awkward doing this with most everyone at their screen most of the day "looking productive".
I'm halfway through The Shallows (why the internet is making us dumber) not sure I agree with the catchy subtitle or the authors logic, but definitely a topic I am interesting in learning more about.
Thanks again for sharing!
Paul Roetzer
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You're absolutely right, a lot of people get so caught up in appearing to be productive like everyone else by sitting at their desks all day, instant messaging, answering on the first ring and responding to emails within 2 minutes. It's just what we're "supposed" to do.
I believe knowledge workers should be encouraged to break from the norm and find a creative space (mentally and/or physically). Our minds are not commodities, employers have to encourage their pros to find the time and space in which they are most productive, and give them the flexibility to produce.
Thanks for the thoughts.
Pierce LaMacchia
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Paul Roetzer
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Chris Butler
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I really appreciate what you're saying here. I, and everyone at my firm, struggle with this. I can clearly see how the decrease in productivity that comes from staying connected eats away at my ability to disengage from work after hours, and I can just as clearly see ways in which that happens for my colleagues. It seems almost impossible to change because in order to do so, many would have to commit.
Last winter we met as a company and I challenged our people to try. I called the situation "hyperity" - being over connected, all the time - and tried to point out how the two main categories of role at our company, producers and organizers, were naturally at odds based upon the conflicting ways in which they each defined success. (I wrote it all up here: http://www.newfangled.com/hyperity). The basic gist is that organizers (account managers, project managers, etc.) tend to define success by the speed with which they process input, while producers (developers, designers, people who make things, etc.) tend to define success in terms of their ability to produce quality work on time. If organizers are successful, they are likely to continually introduce new distractions that keep the producers from their goals. If the producers are successful, they're likely to hinder the organizers in processing as fast as they'd like to. I am sure this is a very common problem in many agencies and interactive firms like ours.
Suffice it to say, we're still working on it. But boy does it matter. By the way, I think you nail it by calling out the fact that we're deceived when we think that the time we spend checking our Twitter and Facebook pages is well spent...
Thanks for your thoughts on this,
Chris
Sherrilynne Starkie
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Joseph Martinez
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Joseph
Paul Roetzer
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@Sherrilynne - Seems like complete common sense, yet few consider it, and even fewer do it. Makes me wonder how much more productive we could be collectively if we all just followed a common sense approach to productivity. Thanks for stopping by!
@Joseph - Thanks for the comment. Perception, and the freedom to be productive, may be the biggest battles we face in corporate cultures.
Judy Roetzer
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Here is my challenge to all of you who are addicted to technology â Unplug, no emails, blackberries, instant messaging, playing games etc. when you are out socially, that includes family and friends.
I for one do not get to see my children all that often so when I do I find it sad that my time with them is never really my time. They often have their "phones" in their hands and are doing whatever while a conversation is taking place. They are "paying attention" and may even join in the conversation, but their head is down engrossed in technology. It is where the NEW socially savvy folks are...becoming anti-social.
Old fashion social skills and plain old good manners, will soon be a thing of the past...they are always distracted. I agree it is biologically impossible for us to give our full attention to more than one task at once. Give people the full attention ( and respect) they deserve. Those words are from a wise man. I remember a story you shared with me only a few years ago. You had a meeting with a man, shortly after you started the business I don't remember who he was, but you were very excited he agreed to meet with you and in awe that while in the meeting with you his cell phone rang and he never even looked down to see who might be trying to reach this important person.
At that moment he made you feel very important, at that moment he made you feel you were all that mattered. That man made an impression on you. That man not only had wonderful social skills but he was also a true gentleman. He showed you by his example how people are supposed to treat and respect others no matter how busy we might be. You are on the right track I just thought I would add a twist to your UNPLUGGED EXPERIMENT.
With lots of love, from your very first teacher,
Mom
Paul Roetzer
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Mom, #6 was for you. Unfortunately for many of us who become consumed by our careers and our need to be connected, we forget to make the most of the time we have with family and friends. We allow ourselves to be distracted.
I am guilty, but I'm working on it. We were actually talking about this exact thing during an agency meeting today -- how I find myself checking emails in the middle of family parties, which is somewhat absurd when you think about it.
So, lesson taken. Thank you, as always!
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