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Dealing with Interruptions When the Culprit is YOU
Regaining Focus
Some of the basic tenets of time management revolve around the concepts that:
- Multitasking is less effective than working on one thing at a time
- Uninterrupted blocks of time enable you to focus and get more done faster
You know that these two points are valid when you come into the office early or stay late because you are not interrupted. It is the perfect setting for being "in the zone." You can concentrate and get detailed work completed. However, instead of extra hours, ideally you should be able to find a time within the work day, at least one to one-and-a-half hours, where you can book time to concentrate. The best scenario for that focused time during the day would be:
- Blocked into your schedule
- Door shut
- Phone calls dropping into voice mail
- Email programs closed
Now suppose you have done everything to limit interruptions and be able to focus. But then... you still find that you are frequently distracted. And who is it that is interrupting your thought process? YOU are. Personal distractions can take several forms:
- Pending tasks: "I have to remember to buy bread on the way home.
- Creative Sidetracks: The current job triggers a new idea for another project
- Looming threats: "I have to get this done or else... ."
- Flights of Escape: "This work is so boring. I'd love to be on the beach."
- Emotional Issues: An argument with your spouse, worry over finances
When you find yourself off-task, determine into which one of the categories the mental interruption falls. Then take action to refocus as quickly as possible. What can you do to quickly get back on track?
- Recognize the pattern:
- What type of distraction is it?
- How often are you interrupting yourself this way?
- Record the thought:
- Pending Tasks: The activity you need to remember
- Creative Sidetracks: That idea you may want to pursue later
- Looming Threats: The worst possible thing that honestly could happen (Real consequences are often less dire than imagined.)
- Flights of Escape: The reward for finishing now--your motivation.
- Emotional Issues: The next step needed in dealing with the matter
When you identify the distraction and make a note of the thought, you can set it aside without continuing to veer off course or worry about forgetting. The notes can then be dealt with at the end of the hour or assigned a future date.
With practice, you will find that you become ever more productive in the blocks of time that you assign for concentrated activities.
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