Learning how to create an interruption system will dramatically help you to stay focused and get more work done. In todays Time Management Tip, I will share with you why you should create an interruption system. This will help you better handle interruptions when they happen.
How to Create An Interruption System
Interruptions are inevitable. These interruptions might be from phone calls, your children, updates on social media, etc Because we cant eliminate interruptions entirely, its important to create a system for when it is OK to interrupt.
Work from Home Interruptions:
For children and/or spouses I like the idea of using a stop light. Use Red, Yellow and Green circles on your office door. If the color displayed is Red, you may only be interrupted when the house is burning down or someone is bleeding! Yellow means you are working but can be interrupted for important needs and questions. Green means anything goes! It will take practice but consistency will allow this system to work.
Phone Calls and Text Messages:
To create an interruption system for phone calls and text messages, set a schedule for when you will take and return calls. Then record a voice message on your phone to let callers know that you will return calls based on the schedule you have set up. This can also be set up as an autoresponder for text messages. For some individuals, they may need to return calls and messages at least every couple of hours. For others, it might only be once or twice a day.