©
Copyright Suzanne Marie Brown All rights
reserved.
We
all do it and I am doing it right now by
writing this article. ‘Self-Inflicted’
Interruption – despite it sounding like some
medical condition it actually features in
everyone’s day to day office life –
However is Self Inflicted Interruption or SII
really a bad thing or is it the fact that is
the most difficult to deal with? Do you often
find yourself wondering off to the post room
to see if there is any post knowing the
postman doesn’t arrive for another half an
hour? Or maybe in the middle of a task you get
the brainwave to sort the filing cabinets.
If
that’s you maybe these tips will help you to
control SII?
·
Have
a task list for the day and stick to it –
Add things when they arrive and amend it as
necessary depending on your priorities for the
day but always know where you are heading.
·
If
you suddenly have an ‘I must do’ moment in
the middle of a task – finish the task you
are doing and jot your thought down on your
to-do list. Once you’ve finished that task
you will be able to look at the new one and
assess it priority and schedule it in to your
day.
·
Schedule
regular breaks – make it the same time
everyday so that you get into a habitual
working pattern. In time you will be able to
schedule your workload to fit around these
breaks so they can act as mini-markers or
incentives to finishing projects.
·
Email!
Switch off the facility on your email system
that notifies you of emails arriving in your
inbox – that way you will be less tempted to
read them. Make a time slot each day to
regularly check your emails and either action
or delete them in that time. Some new programs
now have features when you can adjust the
sounds of the computer to only make a noise
when the email is marked with high-importance
or is from a particular person.
·
Know
your limits – Accept the fact you will not
be able to work solidly for hours on one
project -
build in breaks or smaller pieces of work to
refocus your mind.
·
The
key to dealing with any interruption is to
know it’s cause – Why do you interrupt
yourself? Are you suffering from poor
concentration? Are you bored with the job? Are
you uncomfortable at your desk? Once you know
the reason you will be in a better position to
resolve it.
And
remember that if you fail to plan you plan to
fail…!
SimplySuze,
A young upcoming personal assistant from the
UK, new to the secretarial and writing world
she is hoping to create a storm covering all
subject matters. Please contact simplysuze@hotmail.com
for more information on any of her feature
articles.
© Copyright Suzanne Marie Brown All rights
reserved.
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