I finally stopped taking calls during my deep work hours

Used to think I could juggle phone calls and coding at the same time, but after I missed a deadline by 2 days last month, I started blocking 9am to noon completely. Now I just let those calls go to voicemail and reply after lunch. Anyone else struggle with saying 'no' to midday interruptions?

2 comments

2 Comments

evan_grant702d ago

Blocking off the morning is the only way I've ever made it work. My phone goes straight to silent mode from 8 to noon, and people know not to expect a call back until after lunch. The voicemail gets checked later and I return calls in one quick batch. It helps to set that expectation early with clients and coworkers so they don't get annoyed. Took about two weeks for people to stop trying to call during that window, now it's just the norm.

ross.kim2d ago

Tried something similar last year but I kept forgetting my phone was on silent and missed important texts from my kid's school about early dismissals. @evan_grant70 you got lucky with the two week training period. My cat knocked my phone off the counter one day during my blocked off time and I didn't notice until 3pm when my boss texted asking where I was for a meeting that got moved up. The morning block is a solid idea though, might give it another shot with a backup alarm just in case.