Focus? Why Do I Need More Stinkin' Focus?

by Mike Gehard

In the video titled "Focus? Why Do I Need More Stinkin' Focus?" presented by Mike Gehard at the Rocky Mountain Ruby 2011 event, the speaker discusses the importance of focus in enhancing productivity within the chaotic distractions of modern life. Gehard integrates his experiences from Buddhist yoga and meditation with his work in technology to highlight why practicing focus is crucial for mental effectiveness.

Key points covered in the talk include:

- The Challenge of Modern Distractions: The presence of constant notifications, social media, and a fast-paced work environment significantly hinders our ability to maintain focus. Gehard expresses a universal truth that multitasking reduces efficiency, drawing on studies that indicate a 20% to 40% loss in productivity due to context switching.

- Metaphors for Focus: Gehard relates focus to activities such as rock climbing and whitewater kayaking, where lack of attention can lead to serious consequences. He emphasizes that these activities do not allow room for distracted thinking, thereby cultivating focus.

- The Effects of Multitasking: The speaker illustrates how task-switching leads to inefficiency and reduced intelligence, comparable to computing systems that appear to multitask but actually perform one task at a time while rapidly switching contexts.

- Practicing Focus through Meditation: To combat the negative effects of distractions, Gehard introduces meditation as a practical method for enhancing focus. He leads a brief, simple meditation exercise with the audience, reinforcing that learning to focus is akin to developing any other skill—practice leads to improvement.

- Balance of Brain Functions: Gehard discusses the effectiveness of meditation in allowing the creative processes of the right brain to flourish while giving the analytic left brain a rest. This is particularly relevant for software developers, who benefit from fostering creativity alongside logic.
- Encouragement for Practice: He urges participants to incorporate meditation into their routine, suggesting starting with just five minutes a week, and encourages sharing experiences via social media.

The conclusion of the talk stresses the need for balance between analytical tasks and creative thinking, highlighting that focus is essential not only in programming but in everyday life. Gehard leaves the audience with the message that by practicing mindfulness and developing mental focus, they can significantly enhance their productivity and overall well-being.

00:00:03.480 We're just going to go without slides.

00:00:07.800 The title of the talk is 'Focus? Why Do I Need More Stinkin' Focus?'. The next slide, if it worked, would be a picture of an odometer.

00:00:11.120 So, picture that in your mind. We're going to do a little focus work here. This talk came about from my attempts to integrate two parts of my life: my interest in Buddhist yoga and meditation, and the other part of my life where I sit in front of a computer, build websites, and sell things on the internet.

00:00:27.640 What I decided to do was try and put these two elements together and see how it goes. I encourage you all to let me know at the end of the talk how this experiment went. If you could see that, you would also see my Twitter handle, which is just Mike Gard.

00:00:49.879 One of the things I like to do in my spare time is rock climbing; I also enjoy whitewater kayaking. These are great pictures, but unfortunately, you can't see them right now. I have also taught yoga and meditation, and of course, I have developed software.

00:01:02.280 So, can anyone guess what these four activities have in common? I gave you a hint at the beginning of the talk—yay, you guys are paying attention! Yes, they all require different levels of focus.

00:01:19.400 Picture yourself 800 feet off the ground on the first Flatiron—those big rocks that sit over Boulder. If you're not paying attention, things could get really ugly really quickly. In whitewater kayaking, I’ve been upside down in a river with my head bouncing off the bottom. These activities definitely require focus.

00:01:38.960 Now, there are some slides that I want to share with you. However, that’s not me in the picture—that’s someone else. There! That’s me on the Upper Blue River outside of Silverthorne. That's a super fun wave to surf.

00:01:57.399 I once taught yoga, but that’s my computer in this image. Believe it or not, I think I have more power in my pocket with my phone than that computer had. So, why is focus so important?

00:02:18.560 Well, you sit at a computer all day, and you have the entire internet at your fingertips. You might have Twitter, Facebook, and countless notifications bombarding you. How do you stay focused in today’s world? Our environment does not set us up for success when it comes to focus.

00:02:35.959 What often happens is that we end up multitasking. So, who here multitasks? A show of hands? Anyone who claims not to multitask is lying! There's actually research showing our intelligence may be diminishing because of our multitasking habits.

00:03:09.599 Ever had one of those days where you reach the end and realize you haven't accomplished anything? Well, that's why! We’re constantly changing tasks, and our brains can’t focus effectively. Just like computers, our brains can only do one thing at a time.

00:03:31.680 Computers use something called context switching to appear like they are multitasking. If I'm surfing Twitter and my boss walks in, I have to quickly switch back to 'work mode.' Each time I change context, I lose productivity. Studies show that between 20% to 40% of productivity can be lost due to this switching.

00:04:10.280 In an eight-hour workday, that's 1.6 to 3.2 hours wasted! So, how do we combat this loss of focus? We must practice focusing. How many people currently practice focus?

00:04:41.280 Unfortunately, at the end of this talk, you will all be practicing focus, which in my world equates to sitting meditation. Some people use methods like Paduro to practice focus. Others use substances to aid their focus, but in Boulder, it isn't illicit anymore as long as you have a prescription.

00:05:12.080 In fact, there are more dispensaries in Denver than Starbucks. If that doesn’t make you want to move to Colorado, I don’t know what will!

00:05:48.720 So, in the wise words of Walt Disney, 'The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.' Therefore, I’m going to ask everyone to close their computers and sit at the edge of their chairs. Yes, we’re going to meditate!

00:06:02.680 If this scares you, don’t worry—no one will steal your wallet. I promise! So slide to the edge of your chair, plant both feet on the ground, sit up tall, and close your eyes. Begin by taking three deep breaths in and out through your nose.

00:06:46.760 Once you finish those breaths, start counting to 10. Everyone can count to 10, right? If not, we need to talk! Once you reach 10, simply start again at one. Keep this up, and I will let you know when you are all enlightened.

00:07:31.640 Focus your mind on the counting. It's not important—it's simply a task to help you meditate. If you lose count, just start again at one. You won’t be penalized.

00:08:20.240 Now, gently release your focus on counting. When you are ready, open your eyes. Those who were on the computer can return to it, while those who listened can share how they feel. Do you feel a little more focused? That short meditation session was only about three minutes.

00:09:20.079 How many managed to count to 10? When I first started meditating, I’d get to four and then wonder what the speaker would say next, or if I had new emails waiting in my inbox. Let's recap: find a place you cannot be disturbed. It's a bit odd to meditate in a crowded room of Rubyists, but whatever works!

00:10:52.120 Sit up straight wherever you're comfortable; many prefer sitting on the floor, while others may sit in a chair. Start a timer so you aren’t constantly checking the clock. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to settle in.

00:11:33.960 Count to 10, or any number you feel comfortable with, then start over. If distraction occurs, simply start again. Meditation is simple. Just like any skill, the more you practice, the better you get!

00:12:19.720 Speaking of counting, remember that the left and right brains work differently: the right brain handles creativity and synthesis, while the left deals with analysis and execution. This is especially relevant in software development.

00:13:08.839 Meditation allows your creative muscle to flex while the analytical side takes a back seat. It is often in moments of relaxation when great ideas can surface, similar to when we're in the shower.

00:13:57.639 I encourage you to give meditation a try throughout the week. Start with five minutes if ten feels overwhelming; just dedicate three days a week to this practice.

00:14:35.840 Tweet your experience using the hashtag #meditated. I apologize if my slides were slightly chaotic.

00:15:00.360 Before we wrap up, I want to make a note about the ‘linear brain’ and the need for balance with the ‘rich brain.’ It’s crucial in both personal and software development.

00:15:28.800 Do you have any questions? I’m happy to discuss further detail about meditation or any related topics.

00:16:40.560 As a side note, Living Social will be opening an engineering office in Boulder, so please feel free to reach out to us afterward.

00:16:59.960 Thank you all very much for your time. Now, let’s welcome Mr. Michael Feathers!