When it comes to writers, they need isolation and quiet to focus on their work. This is the common thought when it comes to writers. People generally respect that standpoint. Software engineers are writers too, right? They need quiet and isolation for the majority of time to work as well. One Java developer works from home for long hours on his programs. He has said, "I can't be at the office being distracted every few minutes. I'll get nothing done." What he needs is a place to create, focus, and work. The same requirements apply to anyone who creates, even embedded engineers.
Recent studies have shown that for a worker it takes about 30-45 minutes to get into "the zone" and focus on the tasks at hand. This is particularly the case with writers and engineers. Once distracted, is it common to jump back into the groove? No, the studies show that it takes another 30-45 minutes to return to the original task. So, within an hour and a half, with one distraction, an engineer does zero work, in the most extreme cases.
Distractions come in many flavors. For example, I remember one job I had I was working on software and hardware for a solo project. The office I was at was recently remodeled with the low-walled cubicles that would let everyone see each other. The down side was, we could also hear each other. I was working on a rather sticky aspect of my project one day, and the people around me were pretty free of responsibilities. For almost half that day I had to listen to two people behind me talk about sharks. Yes, the great fish. I could not concentrate at all. I just ended up pecking away at my project, essentially giving up for the day.
Any form of communication allows someone to interrupt. IM, text messages, email, and of course, phone calls all pull us away from the task at hand. Anyone who gives tips on ways to manage distractions at work always say," turn off your phone and emails, so you can stay focused."
An engineer friend of mine tells me how he refuses to answer his desk phone anymore. He said it used to ring about every 15 minutes. It was either customers who had his direct line, or other co-workers passing off a customer to him. "That isn't my job," he always angrily confides. "I am there to do electrical engineering. Design, build, and finish projects. Not to answer phones or have people constantly stopping by to talk to me about nothing." He told me he would, at times, take schematics and his netbook to a store room in the office to hide from people and distractions.
Studies reveal that the average worker is distracted 73 times a day. It is probably less for engineers, but assuredly, not by much. With the 30 minute adjustment period for undertaking tasks, engineers could end up accomplishing nothing in a day. I can't could the number of times that I have heard someone say, " I got nothing done today. Too many distractions."
Every job I have ever held had this issue. And as I climbed up the echelon, becoming more critical to projects, distractions have turned into major stumbling blocks. In fact, I have done my fair share of contract work from home, or my workshop. There, I accomplished so much more, so much faster that it is almost night and day in comparison. Has anyone tried both in an office and at home? How did the schedule fair in both situations?
Can you testify to distractions interrupting your progress significantly?
Cabe
For a deeper look at this issues, read Maggie Jackson's "DISTRACTED: THE EROSION OF ATTENTION AND THE COMING DARK AGE"
