How to handle interruptive ideas

- By now, you likely know that I'm a huge fan…of having focus, which is vital to staying…on the task at hand and not allowing interruptions…to get in your way.…The more we can minimize interruptions,…the more productive you'll be.…But what if you're the one doing the interrupting?…What if it's not just phone calls or someone knocking…on your door, but you're in the middle of an important…project and an idea pops into your head,…something completely unrelated to the task at hand?…Some people are afraid that they're going to lose that idea,…so they immediately act on completing that idea,…switching away from the project at hand.…

The problem with this is you're going to pay…a lot of switching cost, lost time, and momentum.…You're going to have to stop, transition mentally…to whatever this new idea is, complete it,…and then transition mentally back to the task…you were completing previously.…This little interruption could cost you 10 to 20…additional minutes of switching costs if you allow it.…I recommend that you be prepared…