People Turning to Analog Tools for Greater Productivity in a Digital World
Some people have trouble staying productive as remote workers. When mobile devices become distractions, many of people turn to analog tools to stay focused.
In an interview with Snackable Solutions, Productivity Consultant Ellen Goodwin2 presented the STING productivity framework, to keep people focused in short bursts of productivity while avoiding procrastination. According to Goodwin, STING stands for: (S) - Select one task, (T) - Time yourself, (I) - Ignore everything else, (N) - No breaks, and (G) - Give yourself a reward. She said, “A lot of people think that when it comes to focusing, you have to have lots of time with nothing to do, in order to really focus. But that’s not true.”
For this version of STING, Goodwin recommends four analog tools: a kitchen timer, sticky notes, index cards, and a pen. According to Goodwin, “Every time you touch your phone, it’s a chance for you to just go down a rabbit hole, which is the opposite of being focused.” By utilizing these analog tools, Goodwin suggests that workers can avoid distractions associated with mobile phones and other devices.
A number of studies indicate that mobile phones decrease productivity significantly for most people. One study found that students without mobile phones scored a full letter grade-and-a-half higher on a multiple choice test than students who were actively using their mobile phones (Jeffrey H. Kuznekoff & Scott Titsworth (2013) The Impact of Mobile Phone Usage on Student Learning, Communication Education, 62:3, 233-252, DOI: 10.1080/03634523.2013.7679173).
As more people revisit analog devices, businesses and workers could see a boost in productivity as more people continue to work from home.
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WATCH NOW: STING: The Easy Way to Sneak Focus Into Every Day - Ellen Goodwin, Productivity Consultant at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Kx8KzZ7Kg
1 https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/12/09/how-the-coronavirus-outbreak-has-and-hasnt-changed-the-way-americans-work/
2 https://snackablesolutions.com/blog/how-to-sneak-focus-ellen-goodwin/
3 https://doi.org/10.1080/03634523.2013.767917