Book excerpt: Don’t Blame the Demons of Distraction—Conquer Them!On average, dealing with interruptions at work consumes more than two hours a day—or 28% of your whole workday.Is that true for you, too? Do mysterious forces thwart your efforts to be productive at work and beyond? How many times have you said, “I wish I weren’t constantly interrupted” or “I need to stop wasting time on the computer” or “I’m misplacing my keys and glasses all the time”? Don’t dismiss these concerns. They matter. And you definitely don’t have to “live with them.” You don’t have to let your life spin out of control. Take action against your distractions now! Whether you’re a business person, community leader, stay-at-home parent, or retiree, play an active role in enhancing your quality of life—distraction free! You’ll find the systematic approach especially helpful if you constantly:• Struggle to find or maintain a job• Need greater focus to return to school• Strive to keep ahead of competitors• Fight the battle with rushing and over-commitmentUse Actions Against Distractions to help you:• Discover your strengths and vulnerabilities• Go from “good intention” to “effective action”• Gain and maintain improved attention, memory and organization• Ultimately enjoy greater peace of mind and life satisfactionDon’t let your life spin out of control! Take advantage of this guide’s:• Self-Checks and Engaging Worksheets• A Personalized 5-Step Action Plan• 7 Strategies to Implement Your Plan• Actions Against Distraction: technology, others, activities, spaces, stress, fatigue, medication/illness, and an unruly mind “This book can benefit everyone. . . . professionals, business owners, artists, musicians, parents, and anyone trying to juggle a busy life. Dr. Markel’s book is remarkable in that it helps you identify your own ‘Demons of Distraction,’ and through reflection, to mobilize yourself to overcome both internal and external interferences in achieving your goals. I found it funny, profoundly truthful and enormously helpful.”—SALLY ROSENBERG, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor,Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University