Multitasking or CPA?

Have you ever felt an irresistible urge to check your email during an important conversation? I have on too many occasions. I always thought I was simply getting more done, multitasking, using downtime... wrong. Technologist Linda Stone explains this behavior pattern, known as "Continuous Partial Attention", and how it can negatively affect your performance and health. I would highly suggest reading her article if you frequently grab your BlackBerry throughout the day.

Continuous partial attention and multi-tasking are two different attention strategies, motivated by different impulses. When we multi-task, we are motivated by a desire to be more productive and more efficient... In the case of continuous partial attention, we're motivated by a desire not to miss anything. There's a kind of vigilance that is not characteristic of multi-tasking. With cpa, we feel most alive when we're connected, plugged in and in the know. We constantly SCAN for opportunities—activities or people—in any given moment. With every opportunity we ask, "What can I gain here?" [MORE]

To each my friends, colleagues and family who have witnessed my CPA tendencies... Sorry. I will learn where the OFF switch is for each of my gadgets and attempt to give you my undivided attention.