How we minimize interruptions and improve focus at work
A new message pops up all the time, a call is pending or someone “just has a quick question”. Many people are familiar with this from their day-to-day work. But what do all these interruptions actually do to our concentration?
In this episode, we talk to André Meyer from the University of Zurich about how we get into flow – a state of deep concentration – and why it is so difficult to stay there. We find out why, even on good days, it is often not possible to work for more than three hours in a truly focused state, how tools such as Slack and Microsoft Teams can become a challenge and what impact open-plan offices have on our stress levels.
André reports on curious inventions such as the Isolator helmet, talks about the development of the FlowLight, a small lamp that automatically indicates whether someone is currently focused or interruptible, and shares practical tips for anyone who wants to be less distracted in their day-to-day work.
A conversation about digital distractions, productive routines and the question of how we can strengthen our focus at work.
André Meyer, together with Thomas Fritz, has been researching productivity and well-being in the workplace for over ten years. In collaboration with other researchers, they have developed the FlowLight and FlowTeams tools, among others. These support teams in finding a healthy balance between focused work and effective collaboration. They also use FlowLabs to advise and coach companies on how to design working conditions in such a way that individual productivity, team dynamics and employee well-being are sustainably improved.
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An early attempt to protect the flow: Hugo Gernsback’s insulator helmet from 1925 was designed to block out noise and distractions.
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