Life Interruptions—Disruptions or Opportunities?
“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley.”
The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry
-Robert Burns
Life never works out exactly how you envision it, and for the most part, that’s a good thing. It may not seem like it at the time, especially if something important is disrupted, but for most people, a break in routine is healthy. An interruption can allow you to take stock of where you are, to spend time with the people who are important to you, and to gain perspective on what is truly a priority for you. Planned breaks in routine, such as vacations, can also serve these purposes, but they tend to be hectic and require planning. An unanticipated break jumps outside of your normal routine and organizational approach, and “clears the decks” mentally and emotionally.
An unusual week
This past week, I caught a cold, a family member went to the hospital, and a different family member passed away. Not a typical week to say the least. When I’m sick, I actually look forward to having a reason to let everything go and sleep as much as I possibly can. But, in this case, one life interruption interrupted another life interruption. Sometimes I get irritated by disruptions, but when I’m sick, I tend to go with it because it is out of my control. So I faced the other two interruptions already in this mindset. I did what needed to be done and helped out as I could. I slowly returned to my work routine and focused on my priorities. I gained insights into my priorities and some perspective on what is important.
Plan for the unexpected
In your daily routine, it can seem like what you’re doing is urgent and vital. But when you have an unanticipated interruption, you gain a fresh perspective, and may find that the world will not grind to a halt if you don’t immediately finish what you’re working on. That said, there are steps you can take to minimize the impact of interruptions.
One is always to devote your first energies to your priorities. Get the stuff that’s important to you completed first, then, if something unexpected happens, you will know that you did what you could. Another is to be mindful of time tables. If you can complete something that another person is waiting for, you can limit the disruption to others as much as possible. Finally, you can continually bear in mind that you may not be able to keep to your schedule. This allows you to make tweaks to your work that accommodate interruptions to the extent possible.
Take advantage of the break
When life interruptions happen, it’s natural to feel inconvenienced and disrupted. Your productivity has been suspended, and your plans stilled. But it can be helpful to think about the interruption as an opportunity. If it’s related to tragedy or misfortune, you can use the incident to reconnect with the affected person and other concerned friends and family. Spend time with them and get to know them better as you help them cope.
You’re also in a rare situation where others’ expectations of you are postponed. You can use the time to be mindful of these unique moments and explore, inward and outward, your life and who’s in it. And when you’re ready, you can reflect on what is most important in your life. When you get back to “normal,” you can focus on these priorities, even as others are vying for your attention.
Come at it fresh
Any break, whether intended or not, is an opportunity to come back at things fresh. It may not seem like it, as any length of time away from responsibilities seems to lead to a stream of “urgent” matters that require your attention when you return. You may be tempted to herd cats and answer whoever is yelling the loudest, but it’s vital not to give in to squeaky wheels. The first thing to do after a break is to document what you have to do, ensure that everything on the list supports one of your priorities, and rank each item by priority (yours, not anyone else’s). Then, having been away from your responsibilities for some time, come back to them fresh, with potentially new ideas and a new approach.
Any experience in life is an opportunity to learn and grow. Life interruptions can, at first, seem irritating and frustrating, but if you take a step back and stay open-minded, they can be a doorway to new ways of thinking and feeling. Don’t waste the opportunity.
Artwork by Cristina Conti
~~~
The work and research I put into Blocks of Life are entirely reader-supported. If you enjoy the content I provide you can make a one-time donation here at Buy Me a Coffee, if you are inclined. I appreciate all of you who follow this page, and the community we’ve developed.
