Saving The Interruped Worker

Context switching--moving effectively from one task to another--is a challenge in computer programming. It's a bigger challenge for humans trying to get work accomplished. Sunday's New York Times reports on recent research on the productivity-sapping effects of interruptions:

"'Multitasking is going to slow you down, increasing the chances of mistakes,' said David E. Meyer, a cognitive scientist and director of the Brain, Cognition and Action Laboratory at the University of Michigan. 'Disruptions and interruptions are a bad deal from the standpoint of our ability to process information.'"

Humans inherently can't move smoothly among tasks:

"In a recent study, a group of Microsoft workers took, on average, 15 minutes to return to serious mental tasks, like writing reports or computer code, after responding to incoming e-mail or instant message."

Fifteen minutes. Every time. I've held off on using IM, and try to quit e-mail when I can. I use a Mac widget called 3-2-1 Countdown to set time limits--10 minutes, 20 minutes--when I'll do nothing but X. It's still a constant battle. How do you cope, and how do you keep your organization on track? (Hat Tip: 43 Folders)

Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:32 AM, March 27, 2007

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