The NY Times has an article called You There, at the Computer: Pay Attention (requires registration, and if you're reading this 2 weeks from now, too bad).

It starts with

FIRST, a confession. Since starting to write this article two hours ago, I have left my chair only once. But I have not been entirely present, either.

And has stuff like

"It's in human nature to wonder whether you've got new mail," said Alon Halevy, a professor of computer science at the University of Washington who specializes in data management systems and artificial intelligence. "I don't think anything else is as compelling to divert attention."

and

Dr. Bederson tries to read e-mail for only 15 minutes every hour. Dr. Halevy sets milestones for himself and breaks down a large task into small ones. "I say, O.K., I'll finish writing this paragraph, after which I let myself check e-mail, go browse the Web a little bit or make a cappuccino," he said. "If I insert enough resting points between the work, I'm much more motivated to go back to it."

and even

Dr. Csikszentmihalyi, the flow expert, believes interruptions have their place. "I shouldn't knock distraction completely, because it can be useful," he said. "It can clear the mind and give you a needed break from a very linear kind of thinking."

He continued, "E-mail could be a kind of intermittent relief from having to think about things that are not really that enjoyable, but when it becomes a habit so you can't do without it, then it becomes the tail that wags the dog, and it's a problem."

I  think the folks at the NY Times should stop browsing my website and Get Back To Work!

Discuss this article in the Forum.