Interruptions. Arghhh.
One of the biggest problems for us, especially when dealing with a
serious illness, is the relentless stream of sudden events that
interfere with our work. Unexpected phone calls, children that need
attention, the dog needs to go out, the cat needs to come in, the sink
is leaking, the car needs to go to the shop… it never ends! It
is extremely frustrating to be in the middle of a carefully planned
day, deep in thought, only to have Aunt Bertha call to tell you about
her bunions.
What to do? Aunt Bertha’s bunions are important! (To
her.) Some interruptions can be eliminated, some can be controlled,
and some, well…………………… sorry, FedEx just got here and needed a
signature… where was I? Oh yes; …and there are some interruptions
you’ve just got to live with.
Let’s start with
interruptions that can be eliminated: phone calls. Turning
the phone completely off is always an option… let voice mail get it.
That’s not always practical, though; we do want to talk to some
people, don’t we? Well, I have two words for you: “Caller
ID”. This is a wonderful service provided by the phone company
for a small monthly fee that, when the phone rings, displays
information about the caller on your phone. (And, there’s no
interruption for installation: they do it from their office!) If
your phone doesn’t have this feature, you can get a little gizmo at
Radio Shack for under $20.
Bingo! Now you know who’s calling before you answer the phone
and you can make an intelligent decision whether or not to answer it.
If it’s Aunt Bertha, let the voice3 mail get it and call her back later
when it’s convenient for you. You now have power over the phone,
and it is good. The interruption has been reduced to looking to see
who it is.
Other interruptions
can be controlled. For example, you need a plumber to fix the sink
and have a friend that wants to see your hydrangeas. Schedule them
both for the same afternoon, i.e., group things into specific time
slots if possible and then plan activities for that time that are not
sensitive to interruptions.
Another consideration: don’t schedule
them for the time of day that is your best “thinking” time. For
example, I am at my best in the morning so, when I have a choice, I
avoid scheduling things in the morning. That way, the interruptions
don’t disturb me when I’m at my best. Are kids or spouses walking in
and asking you mundane questions that could have waited? Have a
signal that means “DO NOT BOTHER ME UNLESS SOMETHING IS BURNING OR
BLEEDING”. It could be as simple as closing a door. Or, you could
turn on a specific light or lamp that would mean the same thing. Make
it a strict rule and enforce it: they will get the idea.
Eventually.
We have just scratched
the surface, but this beast can be tamed with a little thought and
creativity.
