Making Sure IM Doesn’t Kill Your Work Time

I am a sucker for that little blinking icon that lets me know I’ve got a new Instant Message awaiting me. Try as I may, I can never avoid answering it immediately. Maybe it’s that I was raised to be polite and respond immediately to any form of contact, or maybe I’m a connection freak who loves the instant connection feel of the ‘net. Or maybe it’s both.

Anyhow, today Web Worker Daily has a great post about how to remain productive while using IM. The most obvious tactic - don’t log in when you need to get work done. As a matter of fact, I spent the whole morning without IM, because I had a ton of proposals and reports to write. It works quite well. I can’t just “go invisible” on IM during work, because I can’t help myself if I see a buddy I really want to chat with come online. I have to keep that IM app (currently Digsby and Skype) closed completely.

So check out the tips from WWD today, they’re worth it if you’re communications ADD like me.