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Posted by Joseph Riggio on Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Howdy all ...

What’s interesting is the way that I “recycle” after I’ve arrived home from a trip. When I’m on the road there are at least two factors that strongly affect my experience:

1) Focus - I’m on the road for something in particular and it’s typically very specific, philosophers of mind call this “intentionality” the fixing of attention

2) Context/Environment - things are set-up so that I can and will get my stuff done, in fact because there aren’t any major distractions as there are more likely to be at home I’m usually more productive on the road during my “downtime” as well

Then I get back home and there are benefits to be sure ...

a) my family is around
b) my personal space is set up for me to work
c) all my stuff is within easy access
d) there’s a rhythm I can establish around my work

Yet, maybe even because of all this, I am more likely to get distracted around my own home. What this means is simply that I have to make better choices here about working - both what to be doing, and how to be doing it. So I ride the blade of a double-edged sword around here ... on one edge things are easier to get done and on the other there are things that I can do and like to do that aren’t especially productive. The keenness of these edges keeps me aware so that I can and do concentrate on what it is I’m actually doing.

This doesn’t mean that I don’t get distracted when I should be working, just that I’m aware of it and it becomes a choice. I think ultimately this is the key for anyone with the option to be doing what they intend or doing anything else ... making the choice.

Joseph Riggio, Ph.D.
Princeton, NJ

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