In our busy lives, one thing we must remember, or TRY TO REMEMBER….don’t let distractions derail your life!
Think about the normal flow of your days. Are they seamless and free-flowing, or bumpy, frustrating and slow? It just depends, right? Sometimes the tasks we assign ourselves are accomplished in no time–and sometimes we get nothing done, or very little. Why is that? For one, interruptions. They come in all forms and in all phases of our lives.
MESSAGE Interruptions: phone calls from people you were not expecting; emails, voice and text messages that force you to leave your current task.
PEOPLE Interruptions: A friend, colleague, salesperson or delivery person at the door of your home or office starts to chat.
MECHANICAL Interruptions: Internet access is down; the printer isn’t working properly; your hard-drive crashes; batteries to operate any number of things in your day have lost their charge or burned out and you have no replacement or battery charger; your car breaks down; your bike gets a flat.
LIFE Interruptions: The stuff of nightmares happens–auto accidents, ER visits, people in your life suddenly ill, depressed, lost and needing you.
WHAT TO DO….
The following methods can help you handle the normal, and in-the-long-run, the insignificant interruptions of your day:
TAKE a deep breath and try to relax. Stretch as you contemplate how to fix the printer, when to call for help, or how to shorten the call from Sharon who will talk forever about her new dog.
THINK. There is opportunity in meeting someone new: the person on the phone or at the door could become someone who will expand your life or someone you will be able to help and brighten their day. Be open to both.
ALLOW yourself to learn something. The person on the phone, the email asking for help, the colleague at your office door could possibly teach you something. None of us has all the answers–if you did, your life would always be free-flowing. So relish surprise and free time. Let the interruption clear your mind and then later you will be more ready for your boring task.
LEARN TO POSTPONE This is a hard lesson we all need to master. Try to be prepared to take notes during a phone call; offer your children a snack or art materials if you know your call will be long.
USE YOUR TIME WISELY DESPITE LONG INTERRUPTIONS
If your work requires good weather there will be many times you will have to change plans. Contact your clients, have your calendar at the ready so you can arrange a new date.
All of this requires a mindset–the ability to adjust, be flexible, and always use your time wisely when your schedule is shredded. And remember: mastering these more minor interruptions and inconveniences can prepare you for the truly big LIFE interruptions. And yes, they will happen. Thanks for reading.
6 Responses
All wonderful suggestions. One of my biggest interruptors these days are the endless sales calls. Sometimes it feels like the phone rings every five minutes, always wanting to sell us something we don’t want. We take the phone off the hook now more than ever. It’s the only way to find peace.
Yes, our world has come into our homes, and often that phone call or email or junk mail is NOT WELCOME.
Best to focus on what matters….and also now and again be grateful that we DO KNOW some things that ARE important to our safety and our lives. THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMMENTING.
Living in the moment and telling myself that everything I must get done, will get done. That’s what helps me with all those interruptions.
Excellent advise, and also remembering that YOU come first…not the interruption. Thanks for reading, Beth
I like the positive spin on the pleasure of meeting someone new!
Thanks so much, Carol. In our world today, we need to look for the positive as often as we can. Your comment means a lot.