How to Reduce Distractions and Interruptions

Putting in a full, productive workday is sometimes easier said than done. Despite the best of intentions, some days can just seem to get away from you – turning into emergency response days or employee management days that – although necessary to keep things running smoothly – nevertheless take away from the precious time you have available to complete what is on your to-do list. Unmanaged distractions can slowly chip away at your ability to focus on necessary, high payoff activities that move your business toward success. In some cases, those distractions can actually lead to calculation errors or financial errors that cost you big time in the long run. If you find yourself continually interrupted by people or your own thoughts, it can also take a toll on your overall attitude and even your mental state at the office. The bottom line is: if you always feel unsettled and anxious about getting interrupted, it will keep you from doing your best work. So, how can you reduce distractions and avoid interruptions? Is it even possible to create a work environment that is productive and avoids emergencies altogether? Set Your Team and Your Schedule Up for Success While it is virtually impossible to eliminate all of the last-minute issues that crop up during the week (you are after all a business owner with a busy schedule and a company to run, and if issues arise you need to be the one with the last word on how they are handled), it is definitely possible to structure your business in such a way as to significantly reduce the amount of times you are pulled away from productive tasks to focus on something unplanned. To improve your workplace schedule and eliminate distractions and interruptions, try implementing one or more of these 4 proven productivity tips I’m going to share with you now: 1. Schedule your day in blocks of 60-90 minutes at a time whenever possible. This allows you to focus on specific big-picture tasks without being distracted, since there are consistent breaks in your day between these b