You're overwhelmed by constant emails and phone calls. How do you stay focused and productive?

When it comes to emails, setting up in-bound rules could potentially help. Creating different folders under your inbox with in-bound rules based on email addresses, subjects and types of email can automate your organization system allowing for priority emails to be clear in your inbox, newsletters or subscriptions go into their respective folders as well as internal emails verse incoming client or external emails.

Setting up an email autoresponder that lets the sender know you received their email allows you to continue to work until you reach a set time where you can check emails. You can also state on the autoresponder the times that you'll be checking email, which helps set the expectation that you won't be answering the email right away. When you're trying to focus, setting up do-not-disturb mode on the phone will help greatly. You can also turn your phone off or set it on flight mode. In addition to that, turn off all notifications. Not just audible sounds, but pop-ups and other visual activity as well. Any kind of notification will pull your attention away from the task you're trying to focus on.

Time blocking so powerful because it takes advantage of how our brains work. Our brains aren’t designed to multitask. That’s just a myth people tell themselves to feel productive while they’re actually just spinning their wheels. The benefits of time blocking are massive. First, you get deeper into the task, which means you’re more likely to do it well. Second, you’ll actually finish what you start, which is a huge confidence booster. And third, by setting clear boundaries, you reduce stress. Time blocking is a habit you need to build, which takes time. Start by blocking small parts of your day - maybe an hour in the morning or afternoon. Commit to it like your life depends on it because, in a way, it does. Over time, extend those blocks.

Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Time blocking might be your saving grace. By dedicating specific time blocks for different tasks, you can eliminate distractions and boost productivity. It might feel counterintuitive to prioritize your work, but trust me, it's essential. Consistent interruptions and last-minute requests can drain your energy and impact your performance. Start small by identifying key tasks and scheduling them into your calendar. Use existing tools like Outlook to establish a routine. Remember, it's okay to adjust your schedule when urgent matters arise but protect your dedicated work blocks as much as possible. You'll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish when you give yourself the focus time you deserve.

Very few disturbances in my day to day tasks come from phone calls, as I am usually contacted thru email or zoom chat. I will attempt to read the subject matter of my messages as they come in but I designate a specific period to read in full and respond to them. This helps to limit my distraction and keeps me focused on my tasks.