A. unrelated B. results from C. takes D. fixed E. spends F. distracted G. completely H. productivity I. external J. with K creativity L. previously M. cost N. consistently O. get back Did you know that a task that's interrupted 1 50% longer and has 50% more mistakes than an uninterrupted one? It takes a while for our brains to get into a focused state where we're able to concentrate fully on a task without feeling 2. Once we're in that state, we can enjoy a very productive flow, as long as we don't get interrupted. A focused mind is still sensitive to disruption from 3input. Interruptions—i.e. switching to a different, largely 4 set of thought patterns—erase and scramble much of your 5 loaded and nicely optimized brain state. And frequent interruptions can prevent you from ever fully entering that state of flow. When you interrupt someone, on average, it takes them 23 minutes to 6 to the original task, plus up to 30 minutes to return to the flow state so they can be fully productive again. Almost half of the time you interrupt someone, you'll actually knock them off task 7, such that they won't return to the original task right away when the interruption ends. You may think you're only putting them on pause for a minute or two, but the actual break from the task that 8 your interruption may be significantly longer. Frequent task switching has also been measured to significantly increase stress levels. So interrupting others not only hurts their 9, but it may also damage their health. Interruptions are expensive too. One estimate puts the 10 of workplace interruptions at $588 billion per year in lost productivity for the U.S. economy.