Tag Archives: interruptions

Getting Back to Work after Interruptions

Interruptions are a part of an ordinary day—whether you work at home or work a traditional job. Trying to stay focused is challenging, but getting pulled away for one thing or another is typical and often we cannot even control it. I find that the additional challenge comes when I have to try to get BACK to work after an interruption… Those of us who run home businesses can get very used to interruptions. Whether we have children at home who need our attention or other responsibilities—the phone rings, someone knocks at the door, we have to run out for … Continue reading →

Real Interruption or Imagined?

Keeping on track is tough whether you work at home or not–but when you are working in your home business, there usually isn’t a boss or well-meaning coworker to bring you back to reality and keep you motivated to withstand those interruptions. But, I have also found that when I am working at home–some interruptions are valid and legitimate, and some I conjure up myself to keep from having to buckle down… I can think up all sorts of reasons NOT to work–and what I don’t think up, I have plenty of other people around who can participate. I can … Continue reading →

Interruptions Define the Life of a Single Parent

If someone was to ask me what a person about to embark on single parenthood should prepare for (and people sometimes do ask me similar questions), I would say: Interruptions. The reality of a single parent’s life is that focusing on one task, or what you think you need to be doing at any one time is darn near impossible–every day is one interruption after another. Now, this isn’t to say that living a life of interruptions is necessarily negative or “less than” living a more mellow and focused life, but it is the way things go when you’ve got … Continue reading →

Bartering for Time

Sometimes as parents, we have to barter with our kids in order to get what we want. This is especially true if we have young kids who demand a lot of our time and attention. Being a writer, I don’t work traditional hours. I am often waiting on callbacks that come after 3:00 when Tyler is home or on the weekend. Deadlines loom and if bills are to be paid, well, I have to meet them. What I have found useful is to trade off with Tyler. If I really need to get something done I will tell him that … Continue reading →

Avoiding Interruptions and Completing Discussions

I have been thinking and writing about communication lately–particularly as it relates to parenting and interacting with our children. One of the problems with having discussions and communicating effectively in the family setting can be all the interruptions! This can make it tough to come to resolutions, pay full attention to the problems and issues at hand, and actually complete important discussions with our children. Here are some tips for making communication a priority and NOT giving in to all those potential interruptions: While some interruptions can come from the environment or other people–such as the ringing telephone, a knock … Continue reading →