Handling Distractions

"...interruptions as brief as one or two seconds......were enough to double the number of errors participants made in an assigned task..."

Journal of Experimental Psychology (2014) as quoted by Verna von Pfetten, 2016

Thus multitasking wastes  time when compared with mono-tasking (single-tasking or uni-tasking or just 'paying attention').

Humans do have finite neural resources that are depleted every time we switch between tasks, especially working online. This can happen up to 400 times a day (University of California, 2016) and explains why we feel tired at the end of the day. Thus multi-tasking can be torturous; while focusing on one task and making progress can actually be pleasurable.

"...almost any experience is improved by paying full attention to it......attention is one way your brain decides: Is this interesting? Is this worthwhile?..."

Kelly McGonigal as quoted by Verna von Pfetten, 2016

"...The more we allow ourselves to be distracted from a particular activity, the more we feel the need to be distracted. Paying attention pays dividends..."

Verna von Pfetten, 2016

Moreover

"...Research shows that just having a phone on the table is sufficiently distracting to reduce empathy and rapport between two people who are in conversation..."

Kelly McGonigal as quoted by Verna von Pfetten, 2016