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	Dealing With Interruptions
	By Ramona Creel

Feel free to use this tip sheet / checklist as you tackle your own ""do-it-yourself"" organizing projects. If you would like to REPRINT or DISTRIBUTE this information, please click here for reprinting instructions.

• many interruptions are avoidable with advance planning
• someone else could help them but they don't know who to go to
• you could handle the situation later or schedule a meeting time
• asking questions because you haven't explained clearly enough
• other "emergency" interruptions must be dealt with at that time
• the better you plan ahead, the fewer "crises" will arise

• other people interrupting you and breaking your train of thought
• people dropping in or calling to talk
• calls or emails that distract you from the task at hand
• outside noise or commotion that keeps you from focusing

• times when you interrupt yourself
• remembering something you were supposed to do
• being distracted by piles of paper or disorganization
• spending time on unimportant non-priority tasks
• letting your mind wander away from the focus of your work

• keep an interruption log
• record times when your concentration is broken, whatever cause
• note the time, reason, person interrupting, and how long it lasted
• you will discover that there are patterns to your interruptions
• you must recognize the cause to prevent interruptions

• very few interruptions are both urgent and important
• get out of the habit of dealing with items the minute they come in
• it's more productive to schedule the item into your day later
• stay focused on the task at hand until you complete it
• the rest of the work will still be there when you finish

• set up guidelines for dealing with interruptions
• who you are willing to interrupt work for and who will have to wait
• stand up to greet people so you control the conversation
• don't be afraid to ask how long the interruption will take
• then decide whether you have time to handle it now or later
• ask if you need to be the one to handle the interruption
• if someone else can help, delegate the job
• ask if you need to handle the problem right at that exact moment
• if not, schedule a time to take care of it later
• when interrupted, leave a memory jogger of where you left off work
• it will be easier to get back into the groove when you return

• let people know the times when you are unavailable
• take precautionary measures before interruptions start
• close your door and put up a "do not disturb" sign
• turn your desk away from the door so you don't catch people's eyes
• send your calls to voice mail
• tell people "no" when they ask if they can have a few minutes
• in return, establish "open door" hours for drop-in's and questions
• reschedule unexpected visitors for your open door hours
• invest the time up front to thoroughly explain delegated projects
• save time in the long run by eliminating "clarification" questions

 

Copyright Ramona Creel, all rights reserved-- you are welcome to reprint any article, but you MUST include this resource box.

Ramona Creel is a modern Renaissance woman and guru of simplicity -- traveling the country as a full-time RVer, sharing her story of radically downsizing, and inspiring others to regain control of their own lives. As a Professional Organizer and Accountability Coach, Ramona will help you create the time and space to focus on your true priorities -- clearing away the clutter other obstacles and standing in the way of that life you've always wanted to be living. As a Professional Photographer, Ramona captures powerful images of places and people as she travels. And as a travel writer, social commentator, and blogger, she shares her experiences and insights about the world as we know it. You can see all these sides of Ramona -- read her articles, browse through her photographs, and even hire her to help get your life in order -- at www.RamonaCreel.com. And be sure to follow her on Twitter and on Facebook.

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