Focus Matters: The Neuroscience Behind Distractions

I’m currently reading Hilary Scarlett’s book about Neuroscience for Organizational Change, and one thing that caught my attention is the research on distractions, smartphones, and other devices.

In this experiment, three groups were tasked with solving math problems, all while turning off sound and notifications on their phones. However, their phones were placed differently: face down on the table, in bags, or another room. The result? Not too surprisingly, the group with phones in another room performed the best. 📱🧠

Distractions like smartphones, email notifications, multitasking, and background noise significantly impair our ability to focus and perform well. Even when we believe we’re unaffected, our brains struggle to process multiple streams of information simultaneously, resulting in suboptimal outcomes. What’s surprising is that frequent multitaskers are actually the worst at multitasking —crazy, right?

So, what might this mean for organizations? Perhaps it’s worth considering turning the mirror inward, evaluating our practices, and exploring ways to create a more brain-friendly work environment. But let’s remember, it’s not only up to organizations—employees also have a role to play. By spreading awareness and collectively working towards habit change, we can foster conditions that promote optimal cognitive function and enable everyone to perform at their best. 🌟🚀