People are often surprised to learn that standing up can give us control over how a drop-in visitor stays in our office. Interruptions like these have a way of throwing off our day. One study found that it takes us an average of 25 minutes to get back to our original task after we are interrupted. Therefore, any tips to manage these interruptions are often welcomed.

Interruptions can range from emails (that are oh so enticing when they pop into our inbox), to drop-in visitors to having our mind wander from one task to another. Our productivity would increase if only we could more effectively manage these interruptions. Wouldn’t it be ideal to focus on our own work for a solid stretch of time and then take a break to deal with several interruptions at once?

The good news is that there are several ways that we can build more focused, independent work time into our day. And these techniques still allow us to address the interruptions (which generally can’t be ignored) – but to do so at a time that works for us.

My number one tip is to close your email. Yes, click on the little ‘x’ and shut your email down. This may come as a bit of a shock, but most of us can survive without checking email every few minutes. In most cases, the world will continue to spin if we choose to check email less frequently (such as every hour). There are several other things we can do to manage interruptions including closing our door, booking a meeting room, setting office hours (to deal with several interruptions at once), posting a sign outside our office (e.g., “Genius at work; please come back”) and letting our phone calls go to voicemail.

We don’t need to be perfect when it comes to managing interruptions. In fact, not all interruptions need to be ‘managed’. You may choose to pick up the phone whenever it rings (especially if calls are rare and generally associated with critical issues). You may choose to leave your email open all day long when a particular storm is brewing in the office. Remember, the goal is simply to manage most of your interruptions. You are the best judge of what works for you on any given day.

Let’s get back to my earlier suggestion to stand up when someone drops by. When we decide that we need to get back to work, we can send that subtle message by either sitting down or taking steps towards the door. While the blunt approach can work at times (“I’m in the middle of something, can we chat later?”), this subtle approach is often more appropriate in a team based office environment.

Many of us face countless interruptions that pull us this way and that. It’s easy to throw up our hands and say “that’s just the way it is in my job”. With that said, I challenge you to take control and find ways to manage your common workplace interruptions.