Someone is at the cube entrance. They want my attention. “Hi” or “Good morning”. Spin around in the chair, “Hi. What’s up?”

That’s how it starts. Maybe the conversation continues with something about the weekend. Or maybe they get right to the point. And finish the conversation talking about the weekend. Or a TV show.

But the point is, it is still an interruption. And after the conversation, it will take time to get back to doing whatever it was I was doing.

The point isn’t the people, but the interruption. How much time is lost to interruptions? Isn’t that what the water cooler is for? I’m at the water cooler because, well, I’m not at my desk working. THAT is the place for casual chit-chat. Or maybe, if you have to or are compelled to stop by, knock and ask “Are you free for a moment?” You may just get a finger (not that one, the other one) indicating “one moment” so I can finish up what I may be in the middle of – or close to finishing.

The COVID quarantine certainly reduced the number of people that were knocking on the cube door (do you prefer “entryway”?). OK, it eliminated it. But it increased the number of IM messages….

Yes, I know, this is an extreme. But I am trying to make a point. Hopefully you get it. But these interruptions I will not miss. Not the people, or the conversations, but the interruptions.