Interruptions are inevitable. They are the biggest obstacles to keeping to schedules and completing tasks on time. Interruptions disrupt the normal flow of thoughts and actions, and negate carefully laid plans, timelines, and preparations. If unchecked, interruptions can cause tasks to be left incomplete, reduce quality and attention to detail, and ultimately reduce the amount of spare time available for recreation and enjoyment.

Life is not polite. It does not wait until you have completed the task at hand before it throws another task at you.

When an interruption occurs, you can choose to ignore it or to handle it. For example, the caller ID on the phone allows you to determine whether you want to take that call or let it go to voicemail.

How do you decide whether or not you will let yourself be interrupted? What will make you take away your focus from the task you are working on in order to handle the interruption?

It is almost the same choice you make when you determine...