I've come to similar realizations during my programming career, and realized the value of simple mindfulness in all tasks, especially while communicating to those around you. I've found simple mindfulness to be like a superpower in our age of constant notifications and hundreds of tabs. I even try to force myself to be mindful while checking my email by dealing with a single email at a time (thanks to Mailbox app), and consciously delegating emails and tasks to a particular time if I'm unable to deal with it immediately. In my experience, multitasking is a sleep depriving, mentally taxing, stress inducing, debilitating activity which only reduces quality of life from every conceivable angle, and hurts productivity in general.
It all boils down to one thing: have a single conscious intention when doing something. This takes practice, but eventually you can do it for anything and everything. I've found this can even make routines like brushing your teeth very enjoyable and meaningful (see here: http://www.fastcompany.com/3036363/how-to-be-a-success-at-ev...)
Also, there is a clear rebounding shift towards desktop computers being serious work tools, as opposed to consumption devices, which is what mobiles and tablets are for. This is undoubtedly a trend that is already happening, and I think that OS and software designers need to respect that. It is an unfair, deadly sabotage to mobilify desktops while upsetting the highly focused workflows of programmers, graphic designers, architects, writers, business managers, video editors, students and academic researchers just to pander to a generation of ADHD social network addicts (I'm looking at you Windows 8).
As for people arguing that you simply need self-control and discipline, they are kidding themselves. Focus and concentration are extremely delicate things to create and preserve, and it is a designers responsibility to make products easier for their intended purpose, not simply demand "self control" from their users.