Stop Caving to Interruptions in 2015

Many of us set an intention to be more focused and productive in 2015. We want to have a feeling of being satisfied about our accomplishments, instead of ending the day asking yet again, “Where did the day go?”

For many of us our New Year’s Resolutions depend on us being able to have more control over our schedule, but how are we supposed to do that when research studies indicate we are interrupted on average 7x/hour and waste approximately 2.1 hours a day on distractions? How can we have more control over our day (and our year) when other people bring us their crises and involve us in their stresses? 

The more you feel in control the less you will feel stress, and the more success you will have. You’ve probably been thinking that since interruptions originate with another person, they need to be the one to stop it – but you have more control than you think.   

Here’s a 3 step process that will help you eliminate up to 75% of your current interruptions and take back control over your day.

From now on, every interruption or distraction you face can be responded to in one of these 3 ways, I call this A-C-T. You can either:   

A: Allow or Accept

C: Cut it off at the Pass or Curtail

T: Triage

Here’s how to decide: 

Accept or Allow

Make a short list of criteria to determine which situations you will accept or allow as an interruption. If you decide an interruption is just as or more important than whatever you are currently doing, then Accept or Allow it. Give it your full attention. Resolve the issue. For example:

Your manager or client expects real time availability (you know this because you’ve asked, not because you guess that’s what they want or you fear their response).
There’s a significant risk if you don’t respond.
An important or income-generating project can only move forward with your input.
There’s a personal or family emergency, or the interrupter is an emotionally important person who generally doesn’t waste your time.

Cut it off at the Pass, or Curtail

Prevention! Make a list of your most frequent sources of interruptions and distractions then problem solve them away.  
Assemble a FAQ document with comprehensive answers to frequent questions. 
Schedule Interruption buffer times to answer emails.
Silence email notifications, ringers, etc. to create uninterrupted work time.
Hold “office hours” so people know when to contact you or expect a call back.

Triage

Just like the Emergency Room nurse, pleasantly ask a few questions that clarify the situation and enable you to tell the interrupter your plan for when/how you will respond. Have handy a list of three to five questions that are relevant for any distracting circumstances.  

Once you start to A-C-T on interruptions you will have more control over your day, and free up your mind and schedule to complete your 2015 intentions. Many people who practice this approach gain up to an hour more productivity a day!

Leave me a comment what you will do with your extra hour a day.

--Sharon Melnick, January 2015 Career Coach

Three step process adapted from Success under Stress: Powerful Tools for Staying Calm, Confident, and Productive when the Pressure’s On.