I don’t know about you, but I fall prey to ALL the distractions.

When I’ve got an IEP due or I’m attempting to lesson plan, I’ve got 10 other tabs open on my browser which makes my actual work take that much longer.

Now, when it’s crunch time, I have the ability to log out of Facebook, put my phone away, and close other tabs. But sometimes I need my inbox open so that I can draft up e-mails to send regarding the projects I’m working on at that moment.

 

Still, that nagging notification – that 1 unread e-mail – tends to distract me and send me on all sorts of tangents that have nothing to do with what needs to get done.

And, even when I try to ignore it, it burns my eyes with it’s mere existence, making me dive into this deep hole of wonder. Who is it from? What’s it about? Maybe it’s urgent. Maybe I can read it and then respond later? 

Eventually, that one notification takes over my entire brain until I can’t focus on my work anymore.

So I switch browsers and check my e-mail.

And, of course, it’s something less pressing, but way more exciting. So I respond to it then. Putting all work on hold.

Now, thanks to some wonderful tech-y folks, I’ve discovered the ultimate teacher hack.

INBOX PAUSE.

It pauses your inbox. Until you want to un-pause it. Which, if you’re anything like me, should be AFTER you’ve completed all your tasks. But, who knows? Maybe you’re more responsible than me and can handle a mid-work e-mail check.

But, regardless, however you want to use it, you should use it. Because it is amazing.

And it’s also the reason I’m done drafting the two IEPs I needed to get done this week.

Boom.

[I’m really considering ending each blog post with “Boom.” Or “Poof.” We should probably all vote on that later.]

Question of the Day:

• What is your favorite Google Lab feature to use?

• How should I end my blog posts? Boom? Poof? Peace & love? Xoxo? HAGS?