It happens to all of us.
You’re working away at something – hopefully something really important – when out of nowhere … WHAM!
Someone has just interrupted you with …
… a quick question
… a request for information
… help with something
It can be tempting to drop what you’re doing and work on fulfilling this newest and latest interruption.
Trouble is, every time you allow unplanned interruptions to derail you from a task, you lose precious minutes of productive time. Even if that interruption will only take you a short amount of time to address, it can still throw you out of your groove and possibly make it difficult for you to complete the task at all.
Interruptions are going to happen, and that is a problem.
But the bigger problem is stopping what you’re currently doing, working on the new thing, then recalibrating and refocusing on the original task – all before the next interruption shows up.
Little by little, every day, you are losing productive time. And it adds up pretty darn quickly.
Check out this little tip to help you manage interruptions …
Question The Ask
What exactly does this mean?
Don’t just automatically drop what you’re doing – take a moment to ask for more information like,
Does this need to be done now or can it wait until I’m finished with what I’m working on?
If it can wait (and most interruptions can), then make a note of it on your ‘do later list, then get back to finishing your task at hand. Once you finish what you were doing you can take stock of your ‘do later list and figure out what you need to do next.
The outside world is always imposing new demands and distractions on us. No one is going to protect your time for you. It’s your responsibility. So take matters into your own hands.
Take control of your time – question the ask. Get more stuff done.
Now, get on with your day!
