Study aims to figure out what causes most work day distractions

CLEVELAND - How distracted are you at work?

(Distracted enough to be reading this story, at least…in fact this author meant to write this story hours ago, but of course I was distracted).

Looks like we’re not alone. A study recently completed by The Creative Group asked what causes our most common work day distractions.

The survey found that the longest that folks could work on a task at hand without interruption was just 30 minutes on average.

The most common distraction? Other people in your office or place of business stopping by to chat.

The Creative Group survey asked participants, “Which of the following would you say is the single most common cause of on-the-job distractions for you?”

Here is how they ranked their distractions:

1. People stopping by your office – 27 percent
2. Phone calls – 26 percent
3. Email alerts – 19 percent
4. Instant messages/text messages – 10 percent
5. Social media – 8 percent
6. Other – 2 percent

The survey was conducted by interviewing more than 500 advertising and marketing executives.

So if you find yourself wondering at some point in your work day, what was I just doing? –you’re in good company.

Now get back to work.