Computer use has reached the point of instant communication… emailing, instant messaging, and countless social networking and other websites that provide discussions without waiting. While this helps to improve the speed and ease of business, it can also be a major distraction. Graphic designers, like most professionals, need extended periods of time to focus on a single task. While it is important to keep in touch with clients and address requests on a timely basis, it is also important to give yourself time to complete a design or project without distraction.
Consider setting a schedule for checking email and other forms of communication. If you have your email client and instant messaging open all the time, there is always a chance something will pop up and stop you in your tracks. Making a rule for checking email such as once an hour, every other hour, or similar can help avoid distractions and give you blocks of time to complete work. You can then devote a smaller block to answer several emails (or other types of communication) at once and then return to a larger task.
Whether or not to do this and to what extent to do this is of course personal preference. If you pride yourself in instant responses and your clients expect that from you, this may not be the right method. There are also exceptions, such as days during which you are expecting an important email. On days you need to complete a project, however, limiting your use of email and other communication can be a great help.
