Kim Ngan Nguyen

Director of Digital Platforms for @COPublicRadio. Previously Digital Director @DenverChannel. In constant learning mode.

[Rep. Diana DeGette @RepDianaDeGette]

Colorado has 1 media outlet with a DC-based reporter: CPR.

CPR covers our entire delegation and reports on everything CO-related, not just stories covered by commercial media.

Shame on the GOP for wasting our time by going after a vital source of news for millions of Americans.

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

Check out Denverite’s new website! https://t.co/z5ERUnY11H

[Aakash Gupta @aakashgupta]

Context switching is killing your productivity.

Imagine you’re working on a big project. You’re in the zone, making progress.

Then, you get a notification on your phone. It’s an email from your boss, asking you to join a meeting in 10 minutes. You sigh and join the meeting.

Five minutes in, you check your phone and see another notification. It’s a message from your colleague, asking you for feedback on a document. You open the document and skim through it.

Suddenly, you snap out of your distraction and switch back to the meeting, only to realize you missed half of what was said. You end up quiet for the rest of the meeting.

After the meeting ends, you go back to your project. But now, you can’t remember where you left off. You spend a few minutes trying to recall what you were doing. You finally get back into the flow, but then you hear a ping. It’s another notification...

𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿?

You’re not alone. This is modern work: full of context switching. It might seem harmless, but context switching is actually making you worse at your job.

Here's why. Every time time you switch tasks, your brain has to stop and start over. This takes time and energy. A study by the University of California, Irvine found that it takes about 25 minutes to get back into the flow state after being interrupted.

But that’s not all. Studies show context switching also has other negative effects on your work quality and well-being:

· It lowers your IQ by 10 points or more.
· It reduces your attention to detail.
· It increases your stress.
· It depletes your focus.

𝗦𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲?

It's "back to basics," but applied at work:

1. Batch tasks: Group similar tasks and accomplish them in one go. This reduces switches and maintains your mental mode.

2. Use the Pomodoro technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four cycles, take a longer break. This strategy allows you to batch distractions into breaks and prevent fatigue.

3. Limit meetings: We all get invited to too many. Attend only essential meetings, and schedule them together to preserve blocks of productivity hours.

4. Automate, delegate or outsource: Non-creative yet necessary tasks like data entry consume valuable time and attention. Automate, delegate or outsource them using IFTTT, Fiverr, or a VA.

5. Create a distraction-free environment: It's crazy how effective this is. Turn off notifications, close irrelevant tabs, turn on airplane mode, and find a quiet workspace.

By doing more of these than you were yesterday, you can minimize the impact of context switching on your productivity. You’ll be able to focus better, produce better work, and be happier, while you're at it.

Further Reading and Image Credit: Elaine Meyer

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

@cprwarner I would like one that says "Not a skier." 😀

[Ryan Warner @cprwarner]

THREAD: "Why is there no statewide mask mandate?"

It's the question we get most often when we solicit Qs for @GovofCO.

We probed his thinking in an interview airing Friday @ColoradoMatters. For now, here are some key quotes, which end with a comparison to frostbite.

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

@ejimbo_com 😢

[Emma Carew Grovum @emmacarew]

If you're a white journalist or someone with any level of privilege in journalism (ie: a prestige employer, a full-time job with benefits, a fair/livable wage for the city you live in, etc), today is a GREAT day to support someone who doesn't have that same privilege. (cont)

[CPR News @CPRNews]

Today, we're excited to announce a new job opening at CPR News — Managing Editor for Outreach and Accountability.

The vision for this job came together unlike any other we've posted before, and we think that's worth explaining.

1/

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

@MinaAnnLee @BOTMpod I’m so sorry to hear this! With such a talented team and conversations that were fun and important, I’m sure this pod will find a new home.

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

With the rain falling outside the window and nowhere to be tomorrow, this is a perfect soundtrack to my Sunday afternoon.

[CPR Classical @CPRClassical]

Are you watching @YoYo_Ma live right now on our website or streaming on CPR Classical? He's performing all 6 of the Bach cello suites live and uninterrupted for the next 2.5 hours. Watch and listen here: https://t.co/vXJCEOtWn3

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

I ❤️CPR and agree, this is a really cool initiative.

[Megan Verlee @CPRverlee]

Listening to the final hour and a half of @COPublicRadio's pledge drive and I'm just so proud of my organization.

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

For every donation to @CoPublicRadio today the @COHealthFDN will provide funding to area food banks to feed a family for a week. Support two great causes - nonprofit news and food banks - with a simple click! https://t.co/ThdB9ldg7o

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

@AlexScoville Born to be influencers.

[Ryan Warner @cprwarner]

Journalists @CPRNews and @Denverite work for a company w/strong community support. Colleagues elsewhere aren't so lucky. So many CPR staffers gave from personal accounts to a furlough fund. So can you. If you're an out-of-work journalist, it's a resource. https://t.co/KLfKpEzXbK

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

Go outside and enjoy this beautiful Colorado sunset. #DoingMyPartCO

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

This is a GREAT opportunity so don’t be shy to apply:

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

@bradturner1 @CPRNews @BenteBirkeland @AndyKnny That's commitment!

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

More exciting things occurring at CPR everyday!

[CPR News @CPRNews]

In a signal boost for both, @CPRNews will operate Colorado Springs-based @KRCC under a new partnership https://t.co/bqodZrkQdF

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

I love this commercial so much, but one question. Was I supposed to be polite and turn away the red envelope?! https://t.co/cTLOApnzBZ

[Kim Ngan Nguyen @TheKimNguyen]

@SportsApproved @cprwarner Hello @SportsApproved we haven't changed any of our settings so it's odd you're getting the podcast instead of the livestream. Are you on Google or Alexa? What happens when you ask your smart speaker to "Play CPR News" instead of "Play Colorado Public Radio News"? cc:@cprwarner