There is nothing more annoying than being neck-deep in a project and then to be interrupted by family members, friends, or well-meaning coworkers. It can be very frustrating and disruptive. We also know that it can cause us to lose our productivity and make our tasks take longer than necessary. A 5-minute interruption can quickly turn into 12 and take away an entire hour from our productivity. No Interruptions Day reminds people that it is possible to work well without interruptions. It also serves as a reminder of the people we live with.

No Interruptions Day was created in response to the world that bombards us with information and noise from all angles. Visually, the world is filled with flashing screens, pop-ups, and other outlandish items that are determined to distract us from what’s happening and make us stop and LOOK LOOKING LOOK. Everything wants your attention right now, whether it’s a man displaying a sign in Lady Liberty advertising a tax service or a pop up on your phone from the most recent tweet.

We also have to consider all the noise: advertisements on radio stations, machines making beep noises asking for attention, people stopping by with questions or just a friendly hello. All of this seems to distract us from what we really want to do. No Interruptions Day encourages you to disconnect from everything that can cause us to lose our direction. We can accomplish what we set out for, without interruptions, for just one day.

Turn off your phone and close your office door. Hold all calls and ask your family and friends to help you focus for the day. Those interruptions may be something you love, but that’s only part of the problem. It is easy to be distracted by the more enjoyable and easier things than what we need to do. Put a Do Not Disturb sign at your office’s door. Make sure everyone knows that No Interruptions Day allows you to work without interruptions. Let productivity be your guiding principle and go forth!