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Interruptions

Posted on by philipdodson

Philip Dodson Blog

Interruptions. Arghhhhh.

Social media notifications, text messages, email, phone calls, Slack notifications, and the list goes on.

What would happen if you switched it all off?

Actually not very much, well not very much that would be bad.

I now work in 90 minute blocks (thank you Bernie Mitchell for the inspiration, last year!!) and it has taken a while to master. I have 4 x 90 minute slots a day, where I close all windows, except the one I am working in. Then I take a 20 minute break in between slots.

I put the phone to do not disturb, so no notifications come up and of course if it is urgent from a selected caller, it will come up if there is repeated calls.

What has happened by turning off the interruptions? I have got more done, and by focusing on less things.

Have I become an outcast or excommunicated? No, in fact I am more connected with the right people. As a by product of being more productive, I have been able to spend more quality time on connecting with others.

Make time for different things

Posted on by philipdodson
Margate Harbour by Philip Dodson age 49 & 1 day
Margate Harbour by Philip Dodson age 49 & 1 day

Following on from yesterday’s post about the simple things in life mattering the most.

It is also important to make time to do different things.

Yesterday afternoon, having walked, eaten lunch, and done all the usual fun things that you do at the seaside as a family, we went back to the airbnb apartment that we were staying at, which overlooked the seafront and harbour in Margate.

We played an art game, where we each took it turns to come up with a thing that we all had to draw, then create a story behind it. Then we had to share the art and the story with the rest of the family.

Not only was this ace fun doing some drawing of challenging things, however, once we’d all relaxed, we all got into the ideas part of it too, and the story behind the drawing. We came up with some really creative stuff, which was different.

We did then played a really fun few card games of ‘cheat’, an old family favourite.

This morning, full of the enjoyment of yesterday, I sat early morning looking out the window and sketched the harbour. Not only has this re-energised my love of doing art, but it was really relaxing and just enjoyable.

For those who know me, I am always joking about colouring in, instead of working, but from now on, I plan to be making more time to do different things, including more colouring in and art.