That's it, what to say about... Oh wait up, what's this? An email alert from the boss. Can't ignore that. And my phone just pinged me. And before you know it, an hour's gone by and this blog is going nowhere.

It's a problem we've likely all faced. It's difficult to give your attention to just one thing over the course of a working day. When did you last manage it? So many other nudges, notifications and essential updates jostle for your attention.

And that's just the work stuff. Add all the funny noises my phone makes, and a bad day can be a constant battle to concentrate on anything.

A Crisis of Focus

This is a relatively recent phenomenon. But it's getting worse. How much worse? Well, as Johann Hari is keen to explain in his book "Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention," the forces determined to attract and keep our attention are everywhere, and they're enormously powerful.

And we aren't doing enough to help ourselves. Sound like something from the "Matrix" movie franchise? It's not. "Stolen Focus" isn't a bunch of conspiracy theories. It’s based on many interviews with leading experts in everything from Big Tech to sleep deprivation.

And the picture they paint is a disturbing one.

The Battle for Attention

First, they really are out to get us. There are whole industries dedicated to grabbing our attention. They offer what we think of as rewards – bonus points, membership privileges, that sort of thing – and in return we give them our data.

Then they use that data to build complex profiles of us so that they can put adverts before us for things they know we want.

If that sounds sinister, consider what else behavioral scientists and data analysts can use that data for. They can predict not just what we might want to buy, but what we think about bigger issues. Even how we might vote. If they can predict something, they will likely try to influence it.

Sure, we can switch off our devices. We can lock them away. If we're lucky, we can escape to remote locations – as Hari does. But we're still susceptible. We're still experiencing something close to addiction.

How We Steal Our Own Focus

Second, we harm our own attention from the moment we get up. All too often we grab high-fat, high-sugar snacks rather than proper food. We expose ourselves to brain-damaging pollution daily.

When we do finally put aside the screens to go to bed, we can't sleep properly. So our brains are exhausted, and our ability to focus takes another knock.

Many of us also live in cultures that value the quick fix. So doctors prescribe vast quantities of drugs to treat ADHD, depression and sleeplessness, while leaving the root causes untouched.

In some cases, these causes are to do with innate psychological problems and brain chemistry. But for many people, maybe most, it's the environment in which they live that's the problem.

The Will to Change – and Why We Often Can't

There's another insidious factor at work, and again it's cultural. Hari calls it "cruel optimism." We all want to believe that we can change. That belief should be empowering.

But it's double-edged. If we fail to give up junk food, Twitter, or playing video games until 3 a.m., it's on us. Our willpower's the problem. Never mind that billions of dollars are spent every year trying to overcome that willpower.

Reclaiming Our Attention

It's a grim picture. So are there any positives? Well, we can take steps to change the way we behave as individuals, cruel optimism or not. Hari outlines them. And we can learn lessons from some societies that have taken steps to address this constant erosion of attention.

But Hari's main targets throughout are larger scale. They're industrial complexes and dysfunctional societies. And they will only change how they behave through collective action. Whether it's because customers or activists demand it, or governments enforce it, it'll still be a long-term battle.

"Stolen Focus" is a wake-up call. It deserves our attention – if we can spare it. Because the consequences of whole societies being in a state of distraction are dire. They certainly go beyond whether this blog gets finished or not.

So I'll definitely be turning off the laptop earlier, and spending more time with a good book. As soon as I've checked Twitter, obviously.

Listen to Our "Stolen Focus" Book Insight

We review the best new business books and the tested classics in our monthly Book Insights, available as text or as 15-minute audio recordings.

So, if you're a Mind Tools Club member or corporate user, listen to the "Stolen Focus" Book Insight now!

If you haven't already signed up, join the Mind Tools Club and gain access to our 2,400+ resources, including 390+ Book Insights. For corporate licensing, ask for a demo with one of our team.

About the Author

Simon has been researching, writing and editing non-fiction for over 30 years. In that time he's worked on educational courses, scientific journals, and mass-market trade books about everything from popular psychology to buying houses in Bulgaria. In the last 20 years he's specialized in simplifying complex subjects, and helping readers to learn new skills. Away from work he listens to good music, watches bad football, and is fascinated by medieval history.

The post Time to Focus on Our Dangerous Lack of Focus appeared first on Mind Tools.

As I stood there, I couldn't help but envy those people who used their annual leave to rush off on vacation or spend time with their friends. Instead, here I was rolling out sugar paste in the small hours of my day off, as my hands cramped painfully in protest.

But I only had myself to blame. No one forced me to make wedding cakes in my free time. I already had a full-time job, so why on earth did I think this was a good idea?

The Rise of the Side Hustle

I developed a passion for baking when I was 19. And when a certain U.K. TV show on the subject rejected me one too many times, I decided I'd try to make some money out of it instead. Butter, sugar and eggs may not sound expensive but, believe me, the costs stack up quickly.

Flash forward seven years and I'm now among the approximately 40 percent of Gen Zs and Millennials opting for a side hustle to make ends meet. What started out as a fun hobby has now become a necessary financial boost, particularly as the global cost-of-living crisis deepens.

Working more than one job is nothing new but as the internet and gig economy took the world by storm in the 2000s, the side hustle followed close behind. Now, "hustling" your way to a liveable wage is not only admirable but, frankly, normal.

What Makes a Good Side Hustle?

A side hustle "is a means of making money alongside one's main form of employment or income." But for many, side hustles are passion projects. Perhaps it utilizes a skill that otherwise goes unused, or maybe it's a business idea that will hopefully turn into a full-time venture one day.

Ridesharing, courier services, and pet sitting were once the hallmark side hustles. But now the internet is overflowing with ideas on how to make extra cash, with many claiming to earn you up to $1,000 a month. Some popular suggestions include:

• Selling artwork and handmade goods through online shops like Etsy.
• Podcasting and blogging.
• Streaming.
• Coding.
• Social media influencing.
• Proofreading and copywriting.
• Online tutoring.
• App testing.
• Data Analysis.

And lo and behold…

• Baking.

The key to a worthwhile side hustle is to find something that you're good at, that you enjoy, and that's going to make you money – without affecting your "proper job." But as I've learned the hard way, that's much easier said than done.

Lessons in Hustling

Side hustles have a lot of benefits. Done well, they can not only make you more money but they can also provide you with valuable experience, teach you new skills, and enrich your career.

But handled poorly, they can drain your energy, damage your reputation, and ruin a passion that you once loved. Here are four lessons I've learned while running a side hustle:

1: Clear Boundaries Matter

It may seem like a good idea to squeeze in your side hustle between meetings or during your lunch break. But this can lead you down a slippery slope.

Soon, neither your day job nor your side hustle are receiving your full attention – and your performance in both will suffer. Not to mention that your free time can quickly become a distant memory.

Create a set of rules and stick to them. For example, schedule specific times to work on your side hustle, or use different devices to keep your jobs separate. And make sure to set aside downtime to give yourself a break.

2: Don't Take on Too Much

I love a project. But I have a tendency to bite off more than I can chew; a bad habit that's led to many frantic late nights scrambling to deliver on my overly ambitious plans.

Be realistic about how much time and energy you can put into your side hustle. And take on only as much work as your schedule allows, to avoid stress and burnout.

3: Honesty Is Best

Don't try to hide your side hustle from your employer. It's important to keep your lines of work separate but keeping it a secret is a recipe for disaster, and could damage your professional reputation if you're found out.

Be honest with your boss, reassure them that your side hustle will not disrupt your performance at work, and demonstrate how you intend to keep that promise. Who knows, they might not even be aware of your hidden talents, and may be willing to support you!

4: Not Everything Has to Be Monetized

I've always had a lot of hobbies. And in a world that likes to plant price tags on everything, I've often felt the pressure to turn every recreational activity into a money-making scheme.

But not only will this leave a trail of failed business ideas in your wake, it can also cause the love you once had for your hobbies to turn sour. Instead, allow yourself to spend time on your interests purely for the enjoyment of them.

Do you have a side hustle? What lessons have you learned along the way? Share your tips and ideas in the Comments section, below.

The post How Not to Run a Side Hustle appeared first on Mind Tools.

How could it be otherwise? If we don't do the thing we hate most first, it sits there like a great big wall, blocking us from real progress. It hangs over us like a cloud.

And it can lead to denial about how productively we're using our time. Just think of how long you can spend coming up with excuses for why you're not doing it!

Habits for Success

That pearl of wisdom comes courtesy of renowned U.K. therapist Marisa Peer (and thanks to Louise LeVell for pointing it out on LinkedIn). It's a great antidote to procrastination.

Marisa also points out the consequences of the bad habits that we just can't shake. She adds, "People who don't succeed often seem to give up their goals, rather than do what they hate." Giving up is probably the worst bad habit I can think of.

Bad Habits, Negative Results

Yes, habits: the things we choose to do. Mostly every day. Habits have a habit of defining us – often by default, especially if you don't bother to do anything about the bad ones.

As the late Stephen R. Covey, author of the multimillion-selling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, reminded us, "I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday." Well, you can't argue with that.

Nor with author and thought leader Frank Sonnenberg's assertion that "negative habits produce negative results." The trick is, of course, living your life in the light of that knowledge.

Eradicating negative behaviors in your life is not easy but our article Breaking Bad Habits explores ways you can do it – and if not now, when? As author Shaun Hick says, "It shouldn't take a life-changing event for you to change your life."

Out With the Old Habits, in With the New

So we asked our friends and followers on social media, "What good working habits have you picked up in 2020?" Here's what you had to say…

Louise LeVell reminded us on LinkedIn that, "Marisa Peer's approach says, 'Do the thing you hate most first.' I've adopted this with some success over the past few months."

On the same platform, Lauren Nagys told us that her new good habit was getting back to nature. She said, "Stepping away from the computer during lunch and eating outside or taking a walk. Fresh air and a little sun works magic!"

Lunch is Not for Wimps

Lunch at her desk was an old habit that Katherine Wass was only too happy to ditch. She told us on Facebook, "Old habit – eating at my desk and not taking breaks because I was too busy.

"New habit – having an actual lunch break and finishing on time, which I am able to do because I'm more focused and productive with fewer interruptions."

Better time management has been a boon to Facebook's Nellie Rañosa Gatbunton. She said, "Old habits: 1) foregoing anything I can do at the moment; 2) constantly changing schedules even without good reason.

"New habits: 1) doing things I am supposed to do at the moment; 2) schedules have become more fixed, hence I can do more with this time."

Terms of Engagement

On Facebook, Julie Hebdon’s new habit is good for the environment. She revealed, "I've printed a lot less!" On the same platform, Colleen Guy Ruddy told us, "I've extended good old personal customer service to everyone I met."

Hard to say if Salam Zakout’s habit is good or bad. He told us on Facebook that his new approach was to "drink coffee and eat dark chocolate." Depends how much!

Massimo Roselli told us on LinkedIn that he was taking "a more structured and targeted approach in terms of learning to upskill myself as a recruiter and as a coach.

"This I believe has come from resilience, curiosity and self-awareness. The results and the level of engagement with my job are on another level of meaning."

Tell Us What You Think

Thank you to everyone who shared their tips and strategies. If you have any comments on good or bad habits you've picked up this year, be sure to leave a comment, below. And follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter!

The post Habits: Good and Bad Ones From 2020 -- Your Top Tips! appeared first on Mind Tools.

They can even help you overtake that competitor, if they can be spread effectively throughout your organization. But, what if you asked yourself, "Are these really the best practices for my company – or does someone just say they are?"

Is It Best Practice, or Just Bad Habits?

This might be a difficult question, but it could yield surprising and beneficial answers, according to Freek Vermeulen, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School.

His research has revealed that many presumed "best practices" don't deliver on their promises, and he urges us to take another look at our assumptions.

For instance, we may think that if we do what a successful competitor does, we will also flourish. But that may not be the case.

"We look at high-performing companies and imitate their practices," Vermeulen explains. "But, sometimes, inadvertently, we're just copying some company that basically got lucky."

In other words, that practice we’re adopting with such gusto may have nothing to do with our competitor's wins.

Long-Term and Short-Term Effects

Then there's the issue of perspective. Something that works well in the short term may well be risky as a long-term approach. Take cost cutting, for example.

"In the very short term, cost cutting reduces your cost and therefore improves your performance," says Vermeulen. "What we also know from research is that in the long term it can lead to problems: problems with employee morale, problems with innovation, and so on.

"Hence, because of the short-term benefits we may not realize that this is a bad practice. The harmful effects only happen in the long term and are much more intangible."

All this makes sense, yet organizations often resist challenging and changing the way they do business, because their best practices have become habits.

Recognize Your Bad Habits

In his book, Breaking Bad Habits: Defy Industry Norms and Reinvigorate Your Business, Vermeulen presents some well-grounded tips for recognizing and avoiding bad practices. As you might expect from a book that's all about swimming against the tide, his advice is not designed to make you feel comfortable.

For instance, what's your view of "change for change's sake"? For Vermeulen, organizations should be in a perpetual state of transformation, continually assessing the effectiveness of how they do business.

"I'm not advocating that more change is better, and all change is good," he tells me in our Expert Interview podcast. "What I'm really advocating [is] to change before you're in trouble. If you do change proactively, cumulatively, you will probably get away with less change than when you wait for trouble."

Make Your Life Difficult

We should also should try to make our lives difficult, says Vermeulen. "I do not mean 'difficult' in the sense of, 'Go enter the Chinese market in a completely different product category,’" he clarifies.

"That's certainly difficult, but you're unlikely to benefit from it. What I mean with 'make your life difficult' is do difficult variants of your job, or of your product," he adds.

As an example, he tells me about his research into the in-vitro fertilization industry. It makes commercial sense for fertility clinics to focus on patients who are likely to get pregnant through standard procedures – the easy cases, if you will.

But, in clinics that choose to focus on more complex and problematic patients, doctors stretch themselves and become more skilled at treating all patients, not just the difficult cases. "This makes the whole organization better," Vermeulen points out.

Everyone Has a Role to Play

As a Professor of Strategy, Vermeulen's focus tends to be on organizational decision making.

But he believes that everyone has a role to play in identifying and kicking the bad habits that plague organizations, no matter what their position – as he explains in this audio clip from our Expert Interview:

Question: How often do you analyze your "best practices"? Join the discussion below!

The post Best Practice or Just Bad Habits? appeared first on Mind Tools.