Paper: A Simple Solution to Those Digital Distractions

In today’s hyper-connected world, the idea of being without your phone, smartwatch, or laptop is unthinkable. Our digital devices have revolutionized how we work, communicate, and stay informed. Of course, the downside of constant connectivity is that it can undermine our focus and productivity. Digital distractions, from the repeated need to check online media to the digital disruptions of a near-constant barrage of emails, Slack, and texts, not only pull focus from workplace collaboration and productivity, but they’re also a surefire path to burnout.  

The Truth About Digital Drain and Distractions

Designed to enhance our workplace, digital tools also disrupt our productivity; numerous studies have found that “digital distractions”—tech-based activities that draw workers away from their primary tasks—steal more than 580 hours each year from our work time, equivalent to 28% annually. And after each distraction, it takes us roughly 25 minutes to refocus on our work, illustrating what’s known as the “productivity paradox”: the idea that the theoretical productivity gains from digital tools don’t necessarily translate into actual productivity.  

Dr. Cal Newport, an MIT-trained computer science professor at Georgetown University who studies and writes about the intersections of technology and work, and how distractions undercut true productivity, states, “It takes our brains a considerable amount of time to achieve full focus on something important. If we keep temporarily diverting our attention to quick distractions, such as checking in on email or chat conversations, or scrolling through social media headlines, we never achieve this focus, but instead exist in a neurological liminal state of conflicted attention targets.” 

The Push for Analog Alternatives

While tech is here to stay, there is a growing interest in analog, from increased media consumption to the recent home trend of “analog rooms,” spaces specifically designed to eliminate digital distractions. There’s a good chance your workplace could also use the strategic reintroduction of analog tools; Newport argues that the repeated defocusing caused by the constant pull of our work devices “not only reduces our cognitive capacity but is also exhausting. Both our work and our mental health suffer.” 

Digital devices are here to stay, so there will always be a need to self-enforce digital time-outs. “Effectively utilizing online tools means learning to practice discernment,” says Dawn Friedman, MSEd, a mental health expert. “That is, knowing when to stop Googling, when not to click to the next website, and when to say enough. Workers can practice this by creating structured limits either by setting a timer or by using an app that automatically blocks sites after a certain time.”  

The other option is to incorporate more analog workplace tools, like paper. Studies show using paper for reading and writing can lead to more focus as well as better comprehension and information retention for complex tasks. “It doesn’t have to be all or nothing,” says Friedman. “We can use our screens and also work offline for greater effectiveness. Print out information to read and highlight and take notes with pen and paper. Switching up how we work allows us to use our brain differently.”  

Ways paper facilitates the workplace:  

• Paper minimizes distractions. Digital devices constantly demand our attention, breaking our focus. Working with paper and pen offers distraction-free environment so you can stay in the flow. 
• Paper encourages reflective thought. Writing by hand allows processing and mindfulness by forcing you to slow down, while the tactile experience enhances mental engagement.