Interrupt Nosy? 3 timely tips Restore your focus and productivity!
Using solid time management strategies helps you prioritize, organize, and plan ahead. But once he has a plan, he also needs strong skills to handle those inevitable interruptions that challenge his focus and productivity.
Honing these skills will keep you on track. Neglecting them means that you will lose your focus and your effectiveness and productivity will suffer.
Is this a family scenario? You have a deadline and each tick of the clock brings it closer, while you work hard to meet it. You’re coming up with creative ideas and checking off items on your to-do list. Suddenly, someone appears in her office.
How do you feel when this distraction suddenly demands your attention?
The thing is, you have to decide how to respond as you go. This requires skills that are totally different from the skills you need to plan and prioritize ahead of time. And your answer is very important, in 2 senses:
· Tea that From your answer determine what happens, concretely and immediately, in the tense that follows. Do you pause and spend time with the person? Do you stay on track and ask him to come back later?
· AND as you answer can make you feel empowered or exhausted. Do you invite the person in but feel like a victim of your choice? Does your answer make you feel more or less in charge of yourself and your time? This significantly affects your energy as you go.
So BEFORE interruptions is the best time to plan for them. These 3 timely tips help you stay effective in a world where focus time is at a premium and interruptions are the norm.
How to manage interruptions
You can achieve more and enjoy a boost in morale when you expect interruptions and have planned for them in advance. (And the distractions don’t have to be people, they can be ideas, interesting websites, whatever!)
The secret is to create proactive patterns. You will redirect distractions to scheduled appointments. By doing that, you give them their due while protecting your focus and priorities.
3 tips to stay focused, effective and flexible
1. Find ways you actually invite interruptions from other people.
Document (with friendly energy) the ways you reward people for interrupting you. For example, do you hold the door open? Look up and smile? There can be many ways to subtly invite unscheduled visitors.
Remember: this is not an exercise in self-criticism; be sure to thank and validate yourself for each idea! This is a very practical and powerful way to start making more conscious decisions and reclaiming your time. This is all completely within your range of control!
2. Redirect interruptions to the time you have reserved.
What time of day are you most productive? Reserve that time, whenever possible, for activities that you have prioritized in advance.
Then pick a different part of the day to respond to requests and other things that come up during the day. (Remember, this can be for outside interruptions or for good ideas and interesting news that might grab your attention.) Figure out how much time you usually need to attend to these matters, and then set aside that block of time, too, in your schedule. And if you’re having a hard time keeping boundaries right now, scheduling it last before lunch or leaving work gives you a clear end point.
Keep your appointment schedule open and close. As interruptions arise, schedule them for the time you have reserved. Be specific and be sure to follow up, whether your article involves another person or just you. This builds confidence that the problem will be addressed and you can get back to work more quickly.
If some of your interruptions come by phone or email, you can set up automatic responses to indicate that you’ll be reaching out to people at a specific time of day.
3. Proactively reduce interruptions by anticipating needs.
Are there external interruptions that you can anticipate? Sixteen the initiative. Reach out to the person when it’s convenient for you and schedule a time to talk. Developing this habit strengthens your ability to coordinate a constructive flow of energy for you. What could have been a disruption is now one of your priorities!
As you explore your responses to interruptions, strive to view this as a time for investigation and experimentation. Look for new options to develop and be sure to encourage yourself by welcoming all the valuable lessons.
Taking the initiative when faced with unexpected interruptions is very empowering! When you realize that your daily destiny is in your hands, it has an immediate and positive impact on your choices, your focus, and your productivity.