{"id":4212,"date":"2011-01-25T01:50:30","date_gmt":"2011-01-25T05:50:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joyfullyjobless.com\/blog\/?p=4212"},"modified":"2011-01-25T01:50:30","modified_gmt":"2011-01-25T05:50:30","slug":"handling-interruptions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joyfullyjobless.com\/blog\/2011\/01\/handling-interruptions\/","title":{"rendered":"Handling Interruptions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whenever I\u2019m writing a book, I never get out of bed, <\/em><\/p>\n

because if I get out of bed, <\/em><\/p>\n

I always see something that needs dusting.<\/em><\/p>\n

.Jessamyn West<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

Interruptions can plague anyone who is trying to accomplish a dream, but this seems to be especially true for those who are running a business from home. Years ago, my mother called to ask me to run an errand for her and prefaced her request by saying, \u201cSince you don\u2019t work, dear….\u201d<\/p>\n

Such disruptions can not only impede progress, they can cause us to lose sight of our goals.<\/p>\n

An interruption occurs when a lower priority intrudes on a higher one. We usually think of interruptions as being caused by another person who distracts us from what we are doing, but we can also interrupt ourselves by letting petty things take up our time and attention.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, of course, it makes sense to give into a brief distraction. What is less desirable is allowing time-consuming interruptions to become the norm.<\/p>\n

The best way to handle interruptions is to prevent them before they happen and that requires taking a proactive stance. If you sense that distractions are sabotaging your efforts, keep track for a day or two of every interruption you encounter.<\/p>\n

Is there a pattern? Are there people who keep showing up? What causes you to be distracted?<\/p>\n

Create Boundaries<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your first line of defense is to establish boundaries with those people who may have gotten used to your availability.\u00a0 \u201cNo, I can\u2019t run over and help you turn your mattress right now, but I will be glad to help you this evening,\u201d is one way to handle requests that interfere with the project you need to complete.<\/p>\n

One woman with teenaged children took to wearing a hat\u00a0 when she was working to signal her family that she was to be left alone. Another gave her children permission to interrupt her only if someone was bleeding.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s your family or friends, you\u2019ll lower your frustration level considerably by explaining in advance that you are serious about your business and will be unavailable at certain times.\u00a0 Don\u2019t assume that other people will know that you don\u2019t want interruptions. Tell them when it is and isn\u2019t appropriate to contact you.<\/p>\n

Limit Your Accessibility<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

People who are highly productive tend to guard their time carefully. You wouldn\u2019t expect that your favorite novelist, who is working on her next book, would stop in the middle of writing to have a phone chat with you, would you?<\/p>\n

Your work matters, too, and deserves your full attention when you\u2019re creating, inventing or planning.<\/p>\n

Yet many people seem oblivious to the importance of limited accessibility and the mobile phone has made it possible to reach them anytime, anywhere.<\/p>\n

Unless you deliver babies or repair computers, there\u2019s probably no reason to be on call twenty-four hours a day.<\/p>\n

Since the telephone is most frequently the instrument of interruption, it makes sense to be its master. Some people find it easiest to have a regular time to receive and return calls. Your answering message could even explain to callers that you will get back to them between 2 and 4\u2014or whatever fits your schedule.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s About Time<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Preventing unnecessary interruptions falls under the general heading of Good Time Management. \u201cWithout the management of time,\u201d said William Reiff, \u201cyou will soon have nothing left to manage.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you have no plan for slowing the flow of intrusions, they\u2019ll keep coming. You may not have a battalion of receptionists and secretaries to protect you, but you can find creative ways to limit interruptions. Consider a quiet location other than your office for doing some of your work, for instance.<\/p>\n

Another helpful tool is The 80\/20 Principle<\/em><\/strong> by Richard Koch who points out, \u201cTwenty percent of what we do leads to 80 percent of the results; but 80 percent of what we do leads to only 20 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n

When we identify what that productive 20 percent is, everything shifts.<\/p>\n

Know Your Priorities<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThings that matter most,\u201d said Goethe, \u201cmust never be at the mercy of things that matter least.\u201d Start every day with a brief review of what you want to accomplish and determine what has the highest priority.<\/p>\n

Knowing what matters is what makes it possible to finish that novel while the dust piles up\u2014or to give your partner your undivided attention because you\u2019ve finished your work for the day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whenever I\u2019m writing a book, I never get out of bed, because if I get out of bed, I always see something that needs dusting. .Jessamyn West Interruptions can plague anyone who is trying to accomplish a dream, but this seems to be especially true for those who are running a business from home. Years…<\/p>\n

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