For a while I thought it was just me. Simple mistakes—a misspelled word in an email, a forgotten attachment, the wrong name on a document. Each time it happens I feel queasy. I’m always so meticulous, what’s going on? Turns out, I’m not alone. Not by a long shot. In the last few months I’ve noticed others’ simple errors.
Inverted numbers on a mailing address and the mail came back
Misspelled speaker’s name on a flier mailed out to hundreds of people
Forgetting an important conference call
Signing up for a spin class at the wrong studio
Putting the wrong year on an invoice (this from my accountant!)
The list goes on.
What’s with all the blunders? Are we trying to get stuff done rather than done right?Perhaps. Are we too busy? Maybe. Are we being rushed by others? Could be. Are we too distracted? Bingo. Many of us have lost our ability to focus, to sharpen our senses on what we’re working on because of the beeping sounds from cell phones, tablets, computers and telephones vying for our attention. And guess what, they’re winning. Turns out, keeping one eye on incoming emojis is not good, whether you’re sitting behind a wheel or behind a desk.
I was interviewed last week for Moneyish.com on how to be more productive at work. Removing distractions, like excess paper or items not useful to your job is a must. But so is shutting off notifications. Even for just thirty-minute intervals, you’ll be amazed how much more productive you can be, not to mention the fewer mistakes you’ll make. When writing I shut off all notifications because it’s hard enough to get my tush in the seat, I’m not going to waste the time when I’m in it.
Our plates are overflowing like someone piling on more than they can eat at a buffet. But in the end you can only eat one thing at a time. At least you should if you don’t want to be sick.
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