{"id":19500,"date":"2021-02-24T13:06:51","date_gmt":"2021-02-24T13:06:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/?p=19500"},"modified":"2023-06-08T18:24:07","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T18:24:07","slug":"pandemic-interruptions-multitasking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/news\/2021\/02\/24\/pandemic-interruptions-multitasking","title":{"rendered":"The pandemic, mother of all interruptions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Person
Kristian Gorman photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve been working remotely through the coronavirus pandemic, this may sound familiar: It takes longer to finish a project, and by the end of the day you\u2019re exhausted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are likely among the workers who are feeling the effects of an unrelenting online environment, said Dr. Sophie Leroy, associate professor of management in the University of Washington Bothell\u2019s School of Business<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leroy researches the effects of interruptions on the ability to focus. She coined the term \u201cattention residue\u201d<\/a> about unfinished work that keeps intruding. She also suggested ready-to-resume<\/a> notes as a strategy to help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the pandemic hit, Leroy focused on what was happening. Over the summer, she conducted two research projects that examined how people are managing during what feels to many like the mother of all interruptions. One study involved 1,000 people in a single professional setting. The other study involved 250 people in a variety of professions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research papers will have the details, Leroy said, but it is clear that people working remotely suffer more interruptions. And, tracking performance over several weeks shows interruptions have a negative impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multitasking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Sophie
Sophie Leroy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are several kinds of interruptions. Intrusions and multitasking have become more frequent. \u201cAn intrusion is when I\u2019m working on something, and then I have a request that is forcing me to switch, even though I don\u2019t really want to switch,\u201d Leroy said. \u201cBoth work and nonwork intrusions have increased during the pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multitasking arises from the feeling that we want to make progress on several things at the same time. Usually, we have our own brain to blame. \u201cThe brain has a hard time dealing with things that are not complete,\u201d she said. \u201cThis feeling \u2014 \u2018I\u2019m not making progress, not moving forward\u2019 \u2014 is very uncomfortable.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re in a Zoom meeting, for example, the temptation to multitask tends to be stronger than during in-person meetings. Most people have other programs salient on their computer and feel less visible to others when online. When a message or email pops up, or if there\u2019s a pause of a few seconds in the meeting, the urge to make progress somewhere else takes over, Leroy said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf one has all those documents or windows open on their computer right in front of them, they\u2019re going to go for it. The brain craves it,\u201d Leroy said. \u201cWhat people don\u2019t realize is how cognitively exhausting it is to multitask.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most people, remote work has meant more frequent interruptions, which has resulted in lower productivity than before COVID-19, Leroy said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe time we have available is not the same. It\u2019s cut in tiny little pieces that make it impossible to focus and efficiently move forward,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople are having days that have never been so fragmented, and it slows them down greatly. The only way to reach the same performance is by expanding the number of hours.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you relate? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Working during the pandemic is mentally taxing, Leroy said. What\u2019s more, people report working all the time without accomplishing more and feeling more exhausted as a result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems that even with interruptions, gender inequities are also slipping through. Across her two studies, women tended to be interrupted more often than men. This is a big issue Leroy said, considering the impact on performance. \u201cIt honestly really worries me.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given a choice, who do you go to with a question or to seek advice? \u201cWho do I feel I can interrupt?\u201d People seem to be more comfortable interrupting women, Leroy said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an office, you might hesitate to interrupt colleagues who look as if they are trying to concentrate. You might save your question for later. Online, however, you might fire off an email or other type of message at any time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, you\u2019re on the receiving end of more messages. For example, if you were teaching a class in person, face-to-face, and one student had a question, everyone would hear the answer. Online, \u201cI\u2019m dealing with one person at a time throughout the day,\u201d Leroy said. \u201cThe difficulties of coordinating are creating more need for interruptions.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interruptions can be frustrating. And if you become frustrated, Leroy said, \u201cyou go back to work with that baggage. Negative emotions are going to make you more stressed, make you ruminate, which means you\u2019re less focused.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, while interruptions hurt performance, how we respond to these interruptions also matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to manage <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Leroy suggests several ways of managing the stress. One way, for those gifted with grace, is acceptance. Maybe someone legitimately needs your time. Look at it from their perspective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know I am going to be interrupted, and I accept it and plan with that in mind,\u201d Leroy said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also schedules important work at times of the day when she\u2019s less likely to be interrupted. She lets others know when they would be welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, as well, the ready-to-resume note for unfinished work. When interrupted, take note of where you are and what you are going to do upon return. One recent note Leroy wrote to herself read, \u201cCheck 210 unsure.\u201d It means nothing to others, but she knows exactly what to do next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can let go and be more comfortable. It\u2019s not finished, but I know when I\u2019m going to resume it, and I know what I\u2019m going to do,\u201d Leroy said. \u201cI can focus on the interruption, and I\u2019ll be able to efficiently resume the interrupted work.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New research on the effects of working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic shows it takes longer to finish a project, and by the end of the day you’re exhausted, said Dr. Sophie Leroy, associate professor of management in the School of Business.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_is_archived":false,"_archived_contact_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[202,218,249,229,252,214],"tags":[],"school":[417],"class_list":["post-19500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-campus-news","category-community-engagement","category-coronavirus","category-faculty","category-population-health","category-research","school-school-of-business"],"acf":{"related_links":{"toggle_visibility":false,"link_1":"","link_2":"","link_3":"","link_4":"","link_5":""},"highlight_box":{"toggle_visibility":false,"title":"","content":"","button":"","button_style":"angled-purple-button","button_screen_reader_text":""},"contact_type_1":{"toggle_visibility":true,"contact_title":"Contact Us","email":"test@uwb.edu","phone":"(206) 999-1234","box":"Box 358500","address_line_1":"18115 Campus Way NE","address_line_2":"Bothell, WA 98011-8246","location":""},"contact_type_2":{"toggle_visibility":false,"contact_title":"","email":"","phone":"","box":"","address_line_1":"","address_line_2":"","location":""},"social_media":{"toggle_visibility":false,"facebook_url":"","instagram_url":"","linkedin_url":"","twitter_url":"","youtube_url":""},"blog_archive_sidebar_visibility":false},"yoast_head":"\nThe pandemic, mother of all interruptions - 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