Focus Tips
Slow to Recover From Interruptions
Bounce back to deep work quickly after being pulled away.
The Problem
A colleague taps you with a question, and even though it took two minutes, it takes you twenty to get back into your task. Interruptions cost far more in recovery than in duration, and they pile up all day.
Strategies to Overcome It
- 1Write a one-line "where I am" note before any interruption.
- 2Use status signals (headphones, sign) to prevent drop-ins.
- 3Batch interruptions by telling people a good time to ask.
- 4Take 30 seconds to re-read your last line before resuming.
- 5Schedule interruption-prone tasks into one block.
Your 2-Minute Action
Before your next interruption-prone moment, write "I am currently doing X, next step Y" on a note. When pulled away, that line is your on-ramp back.