Create rituals around the tasks you perform day in and day out.
Here are some examples:
- Pick a time of the day, each day and answer email during that time. I check email 3x a day. In the morning, around lunch and then late afternoon. Closing my email program or simply turning off the chime that announces emails, will keep you from being distracted.
- Answer phone calls during a specific hour in the morning and again in the afternoon. Turn your phone on vibrate and let calls go into your voicemail when you are trying to focus on other work. Likewise, with text messaging. Ignore those until a specific time you have set aside.
- Avoid checking your social media. Limit access to lunchtime, break time and after work hours.
Even if you aren’t always be able to keep the new habits, by striving to set boundaries, you may find you get more done and are less frustrated in the process!