I was on a long drive in my car the other day when it struck me just how lucky I felt not to have to answer my cell phone should it ring. Given that I forgot my headset, the new laws where I live prevent me from answering the phone without one. I then got to thinking how nice it was to have some unplugged time where I didn’t have to answer or respond to anyone or anything. I also noticed how many creative and generative ideas I was coming up with regarding my business and various projects. I then got to thinking how interruptions in the workplace stifle creative thought and hamper productivity.
So often in our workday world we are interrupted constantly by a barrage of beeps, rings, tones or requests. Have you ever noticed that whenever you seem to just get your head wrapped around something that you are abruptly interrupted by a rarely quiet piece of technology or someone in your environment? And that when you then get off the call, text or email you find that your brilliant insight has faded or gone into deep hiding?
Time blocking
The truth is distractions cost money. While being available to clients and co-workers is part of your job, important work requires total attention and focus. In a recent video from Fast Company, Gina Trapani cites a study that claims that unnecessary interruptions cost the U.S. economy $650 billion dollars in lost productivity per year. A solution to this is Time blocking, whereby you block out hour long “meetings” with yourself to devote your full attention to important tasks. We all know that our brain requires uninterrupted time to get into the zone where we are most productive. Trapani puts this number at the 15 minute mark and it is at this point that we are then able to carry out our best work.
How to do it
Set aside a definite start and end time when you have no meetings planned. Commit to getting your task done within this single block of time. Book a meeting room if you can, forward your phone to voicemail, silence your instant messaging and take with you only those supplies that you need for your task. Let your assistant or others know that you’ll be unavailable for however long your time block is. Be sure also to take whatever food or drink you might need to snack on. Then get set to unleash your full creative mind on that task that has been taking on an ugly odor.
Once you get in the habit, begin looking at your week in advance and schedule blocks of time to deal with your most important to do’s of that week. Certain days may prove to be better than others for time blocking. Be consistent with this and soon this new productivity boosting habit will become entrenched.
What are some of the ways that you can be your most creative and productive? How do you create that space within your office?
