Did you know that you have a boundary-setting dynamo in the palm of your hand?

Boundaries are important when it comes to standing up for yourself, expressing your needs, and teaching people how you expect to be treated. But did you ever consider the impact of boundaries on your focus and productivity?

Allow me to paint you a picture. You’ve got a big project due in a few days. You know you’ve got plenty of time to complete it, but you seem to be surrounded by squirrels. Not just regular squirrels, but squirrels wearing sequined leotards and throwing up jazz hands (paws?). No matter how hard you try, you can’t focus on the task at hand, and you’re getting anxious as your due date looms closer.

Has this ever happened to you?

The Myth of Multitasking

Before I tell you how to navigate the squirrel infestation (an adorable infestation though it may be), let’s understand the science behind it. In my book You Had Me At No: How Setting Healthy Boundaries Helps Banish Burnout, Repair Relationships, and Save Your Sanity, I discussed the myth of multitasking. According to “The Cost of Interrupted Work: More Speed and Stress,” a study by the University of California, Irvine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to get back on task after an interruption. Worse yet, “multitasking” can actually make it harder to think. They estimate it’s the equivalent of dropping 10 IQ points. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to keep all the IQ points I can.

Luckily, there’s something we can do about those fluffy little rodents.

Using Your Smartphone to Set Boundaries

Don’t pull your phone out just yet if you’re reading this on a computer or iPad. I’d hate for you to get sucked into social media and miss this. Let’s take a look at the first function on your phone that can save you time and sanity…

Do Not Disturb

There are certain tasks that require your full focus. In my business, those tasks are often writing-related. I write fairly quickly, but only if I’m focused. If my phone is blowing up with text messages, phone calls, and notifications that I forgot to do my Spanish practice that morning (que es terrible), I’m constantly pulled away from what I’m doing. Will it get done anyway? Eventually, however, it’s the difference between me writing a blog or article in 20 minutes and it taking upwards of 3 hours to complete. How crazy is that?

Say hello to my little friend, the Do Not Disturb function. If you’ve got an iPhone, you can swipe down from the top of the screen and click on the icon that looks like a moon and says Focus. Lest you are worried that the world will end and you won’t be notified, you can customize this to allow your Favorites to make it through. No more dinging. No more constantly looking over to see if anything is happening. Focus on your work, finish your work, and then go enjoy whatever drama is unfolding outside your little work bubble.

If you’d like to learn the second function on your smartphone that can save you time and sanity, keep an eye out for Part 2. You can also visit www.YouHadMeAtNo.com to get more boundary-setting hacks and order a copy of my book.

Happy boundary setting!