My blackout period
A few weeks ago I notified everyone I knew that I would be unavailable for an hour. I turned off my cell phone, twitter, instant messenger, email, and any other thing that would distract me from my purpose. In that hour I accomplished an unbelievable amount of work. My purpose now is to make a case for you to do the same.
Why do distractions hurt?
The fact is that we live in an increasingly noisy world. More information is whizzing through the air now than at any other time in the history of the world. This is a good thing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with cell phones or email; they are amazingly useful tools. The problem lies in our misapplication and horrendous timing.
A friend of mine recently recounted how their uncle was busy tweeting at his own father’s funeral. It’s easy to see the absurdity of it, but how many of us have let a phone call interrupt homework? How many of us have texted a friend during a meeting? How many of us have put off any number of important things for the demanding immediacy of something or somebody else, which was really less important?
The truth of the matter is that much of the time this perceived immediacy is patently false. And truthfully, that doesn’t even matter because immediacy does not equal importance, and importance is greater than immediacy.
Realtionship between what we feel is important and what is immediate.
What do you really want?
If your goal in life is the be the world’s fastest email answerer then by all means please keep that account open and set up sms notifications to your heart’s content! And if your one true desire is to be the ultimate TV watcher, then for heaven’s sake don’t let your family or work get in the way of your inexhaustible backlog of Tivo-ed Law & Order. If, however, you can see that your true goals don’t line up with your behavior, then it’s time to block those things out of your life. So take a minute and think about what you really want to do or make or accomplish.
A realistic proposal
Here’s the thing: we live in real life, where as a rule, people don’t operate like machines. We all need time to relax and wind down. The real problem exists in trying to fit our relaxation and our work into the same period of time. It just isn’t going to happen.
My suggestion: plan blocks of time to cut out your distractions and work on your goal. I call these blackout periods.
How Blackouts Work
Coincidentally I’m not the only one saying this. Merlin Mann has been discussing this idea and his insights are apt to say the least. I could not summon words powerful enough to express my extreme desire for everyone reading this to go to 43 Folders and hear what he has to say.
In the end your distractions may be completely different from me. The technological geekery that I revel in may be completely repulsive to you. I still would wager you have your own distractions. Figure it out and take my challenge to dedicate time away from them. It will change your life as it has mine.
What are your distractions?
Are you going to take me up on the challenge?
I’d love to hear any experiences that come from this.
Good Cause.
-cLiNt
Thanks, you gunna' answer my questions?
The blackout period is a great idea. Now all I need is the discipline to follow through!
brb ttyl
Years ago I was running a bookkeeping service and managing the apartment building that I lived in. I was on call 24/7 and bogged down with work. I felt guilty even taking a break to watch TV in the evening -and I would never even consider turning my phone off- because it wasn't productive and there was always something that I “should” have been doing. When I had a lull one Friday afternoon after a particularly rough week, I decided to go see a movie. Disconnected from the outside world, I sat in a dark, air conditioned theatre and made the world go away for two hours while I was being entertained and munching on popcorn. I had to turn off my phone, I had to sit quietly, and I didn't think about business because I was enjoying the movie. I was astonished at how rested and rejuvenated I felt after so I decided to take that time every week. My Friday afternoon “appointment” became something to look forward to, something to plan and, best of all, it was just for me. There was no discipline involved, really, I simply made myself a priority for a few hours each week. Best. Idea. Ever.
I think you hit on an important part of this; you've got to take breaks for yourself, and in order to be effective, they've got to be a habit, a sacred-no-interruptions-accepted time.