Numerous distractions interfere with everyday work. Constant emails, to-dos, and competing needs of those with whom we must communicate grab at our attention. If you continually end the day having only skimmed the surface of what had to be accomplished, you may be a victim of a work habit called "reactionary workflow." Reactionary workflow is responding to what's constantly in front of you and demanding your attention. The result is only skimming the surface of your to-do list and barely touching the most important work. Reactionary workflow is a problem of the modern workplace. Technology keeps a conveyor belt of information, issues, problems, and needs coming at us full speed -- both personal and business related -- 24/7. To reduce reactionary workflow. practice four intervention steps:

1) Make a list of absolute-must-get-done items with the time needed to complete them each day. Schedule them.

2) Open your "notepad" or Wordpad tool on your computer and paste incoming urget items to this list.

3) Spend the last hour of your day responding to this list of items.

This system is not cure-all, but with practice, it can help turn the table on reactionary workflow.