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Close the Door

Ideally, your work environment should be a place with a door that you can close to eliminate disturbance. If this isn't possible, at least shoot for your own office. If you work at home, your office should be a room away from the rest of the family, a place where they know you're working. If you work away from home, try to snag your own office, and, failing that, shoot for a quiet corner cube or other place removed from the typical noise and traffic flow in the office. Some people have found that headphones go a long way toward blocking ambient noise. Do whatever it takes to cut down on distractions and interruptions, and focus on your job. I've even been known to unplug my phone when I'm working on something very complex. That's ...