Schedule focused blocks of time

timeblocksWe’ve all had the experience of thinking something will take 30 minutes only to discover that it really took us 2 hours from start to finish.

Often this is because we are allowing ourselves to be distracted or interrupted in the middle of the task or project.

Or, we keep shifting from the phone to the computer to some research to looking for a file to getting a cup of coffee… (insert your own activity here).

Try blocking time for phone calls – and make all your calls during that block of time.

Or, block time for lunch and actually leave your desk (radical thought, I know).

Even a 15 minute block, uninterrupted, will make a difference in your day.


© Terry Monaghan, 2013 ~ All Rights Reserved




  1. Gina says:

    I feel funny about not answering the phone when it rings. Customers prefer to get a human not v/m. If it’s a potential customer they may just hang up and call someone else. What are your thoughts on this?

    • admin says:

      You could make sure there is a clear message letting people know when you return calls. Or, you could use an answering service (which isn’t too expensive) for those times you need to focus. Think about it. If you are in a meeting with a client, you would not interrupt that meeting to take an incoming call – I hope! Unless, of course, it were an emergency. Yes, it is possible someone may hang up and call someone else, but I find that if you build a great reputation, they will leave a message and wait for your call back.

  2. Gina says:

    By the way… can you slow down the words of wisdom… they change too fast for me! ;o))