Do your working days involve much internet use? Chances are it's harming your ability to think.

The concept of fractured attention is not new, but it's something growing numbers of people are experiencing on a daily basis.

Concurrently checking email, surfing news web sites and updating FaceBook while writing a report is an all-to-regular occurrence. Trouble is, it's a habit that is slowly but surely re-wiring our brains.

The idea has been clearly spelled out by author Nicholas Carr in a new book The Shallows. In it he expands an argument he first made in an article for The Atlantic magazine.

Essentially he is saying that the increasing tendency for people to multi-task is robbing them of the ability to undertake structured thought. While we're getting very good at searching and skimming, we're no longer so good at concentrating and reflection.

Why should we care? Because many of the larger challenges faced in the workplace require just that - a good long think. Whether it's putting together a marketing plan or mapping out an expansion strategy, periods of non-distracted thought are essential.

But how can we do this when we're constantly checking a multitude of information sources? Simple answer - we can't.

So perhaps it's time to carve out a little "pure thinking" time during each work day. Disconnect from the online world and spend time in the cerebral one.

The results might surprise us.