2.19.2013

Phone Distractions

I spend most of my days by myself working in my studio. I communicate with my sister on a daily basis usually via Skype Instant Message, my husband and daughter via phone, and I have a few random calls from other family members and friends.

Some days I can have all this happening all at the same time. Just last week I was on Skype with my brother, my sister called on the phone, then my husband, and my daughter was sending me text messages. 

For some reason, if I am talking with one person another person calls or texts at the same time. Sometimes all these distractions can really cut into my productivity. 

Do you ever have that problem? 

Lots of calls and texts distracting you while you are working.

If this is a problem then starting a phone free hour might be helpful. Choose in hour in your day where you turn off your phone so you can be free from distraction and get some real work done.

I suggest you let your family know that you are turning your phone off, so if they do call they don't get worried. I know it drives my daughter crazy if I don't respond to her calls or texts right away.

I know that when I let everyone one know I need time to work, those are the most productive hours of my day.

Could you live without your phone for an hour or two each day?


Add To Google BookmarksStumble ThisFav This With TechnoratiAdd To Del.icio.usDigg ThisAdd To RedditTwit ThisAdd To FacebookAdd To Yahoo

Pin It

9 comments:

  1. I've made it pretty clear that I hate talking on the phone so I don't get many calls. I get texts from my fiance' when he's on the road. What distracts me is the compulsion to check on FB every now and then.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Emails are more distracting to me than phone calls/texts. But that's self-imposed...if I see a new message pop up, I have to see what it is right away.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm with Edi, I get much more distracted by things on the computer than I do my phone. Luckily, most of my family and friends don't try to call me until later in the afternoon, so it's not often a problem!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm not so distracted by phone calls as I am with email/twitter. It's like an addiction. I have to check every few minutes. Sometimes I force myself to step away and do something else. I'm trying to get better at doing this. My mother usually doesn't call me until the afternoon and friends usually gchat with me.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I don't have a studio, and our workplace is out in the open and shared, so I we get distractions ALL the time! But I don't have a cell phone (shocker, right?), so that's not too much of a problem for me.
    A phone free hour is a good plan, though.
    ~Kim

    ReplyDelete
  6. I spend a lot of time by myself in my office too, but I tend to neglect my phone. I guess I just don't use it much, and if it rings, I've always had the notion that I don't HAVE to answer it, if I don't want to... But then I know I should try not to be such a hermit too. LOL. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Since I started working from home, I've become disciplined about when I check my email. I don't get a lot of calls or texts during the day, and usually I can deal with them quickly so it isn't a big deal.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My phone is in my purse at work - I check it at breaks and lunch, but there's no time otherwise.

    At home, we have a house rule. No phones at the dinner table! To me that's just rude, though you certainly see people doing it when you go out to a restaurant.

    I turn mine to silent before bed, I hate being woke up by a late text from my night owl friends!

    They are great for keeping up with things, but you could certainly sit there all day checking texts/calls and emails!

    ReplyDelete
  9. good advice! considering I never hear my phone ... that isn't it for me. But limiting my computer time actually does force me to 'shut it off' for awhile!

    ReplyDelete