Too Busy for Your Own Good (19 page)

Many employers will limit or prohibit online connection to the Internet except as it applies to performing your job. If you have unlimited access to the Web, you've probably discovered that you can lose hours if you don't control your online time. For me, it's easy to go from writing about stress reduction to researching psychoneuroimmunology articles to bidding on a new gizmo on eBay. Then I remember that I should put the old gizmo up for auction, organize the drawer it's in, take a digital picture of it, download my vacation pictures off the camera, and . . . wow, it's time for my conference call already! Set new rules for yourself online to stay task-oriented:

Set alarms for when you must get
offline
.

Use time-limiting or parental control software.

Stay out of chat rooms.

Shop only during lunch.

Stay out of gaming sites.

Visit social networking sites only during lunch.

People popping into your office for a quick chat or snatching jelly beans from your candy bowl can be a pleasant break in the day. If you're working on a project that needs focus, interruptions can break your concentration so completely that their effects have been compared to drinking alcohol on the job! Despite all implications to the contrary, you do have the power to limit interruptions. Here's how:

Eliminate visitation starters, such as snacks and funny signs.

Keep your door closed more often.

Hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your cubicle when you're in deep concentration.

Talk to your coworkers about instituting “peace hours,” time periods when no one interrupts anyone else in the office.

This may be the most difficult for you lovable, social types to institute at work. Whenever possible, get in the habit of saying no. Of course, you won't always be able to say no to the tasks you are asked to perform (unless your goal is to get fired), but if you find that you're easily pushed into taking on unnecessary work, then it's time to start using
no
more. You may think that you don't know how to do this, but when you were a two-year-old,
no
was probably your favorite word.

Here's a semi-radical exercise for you people pleasers out there. For one entire day, practice saying no to every request that doesn't come directly from your supervisor. Keep a journal to record how many times you said it and estimate how much time and effort you saved yourself. You will be surprised by how much time you saved by saying no. This provides positive reinforcement, which will make it easier to say no next time. Also, record the negative consequences of saying no—you might be surprised that there are very few!

It's easy with software like Microsoft Outlook, or your trusty paper scheduling system, to automate those things that happen all the time. You think you'll remember these “regular” events, but the basics can “fall through the cracks” when you're ultra-busy.

Vacations and days off
. Downtime is mandatory for rehabilitating your “busy.”

Important birthdays and anniversaries
. Make sure to also note the year of the first one so you can be the one to acknowledge milestones: “Congrats on your 10th,” or “Can you believe it's been three years?!” This kind of personal attention helps you distinguish yourself among your peers as a conscientious and caring person.