I've noticed that whenever I'm working on something and getting into it (programming, especially) I'm likely to turn into quite a grumpy guy whenever something tries to pull me away from my task, to put the feeling lightly.

Anyone else do that? Have any tricks for turning that off besides just reassuring yourself that you'll have plenty of time to crack that nut later?

Maybe some soothing music? Palm trees and a drink?

I think it's perfectly natural not to want to be interrupted when absorbed in something one wants or needs to do. It sounds to me that you are asking about your reaction, rather than about the interruptions themselves.

At the risk of sounding like a cliché, I have to say that, in the short term, that's what etiquette is for. Etiquette is not for situations where being polite is easy; it's for situations where being polite is difficult. I'm old, and I was brought up to be polite to everyone. Being taught to treat everyone with courtesy has saved my bacon many times when my gut instinct was to throw a fit.

I think it also depends on who's doing the interrupting. With some persons, it's quite okay to say, "I'm sorry but I'm really busy/making progress now. Could we talk about this later (and name a time, such as "after lunch"--don't leave it hanging with "later.")

Of course, some persons who might interrupt you can't be put off: the boss, the wife, the crying child. There you must decide what's more important, your project or your job/family/child. Indeed, I think a sense of perspective may be the single most important stress management tool.

As for specific techniques for stress management, which I suggest is the larger topic, there are many, some simple, some complex. A web search for "stress management" will turn up a number of links, some more useful than others. Be very skeptical of many of the links to make sure they are not from persons trying to sell you their own brand of snake oil.

Contemporary stress research started with the work of Dr. Herbert Benson. You could do worse than start with his work. Here's a link to an article about some of his recommendations: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...ation-response

Just my two cents, and my apologies if I have presumed too much.

Full Disclosure: I used to teach a stress management course for one of my employers. Much of the course was based on Benson's work. I did not design the course, but I know from personal use of the techniques that they do work.

Stay grumpy, get the job done.

Same applies at home; "office door closed" == "no interruptions".

Hi...

Yep, I've been down that road. But honestly, palm trees, drinks and other "tricks" are extremely temporary measures that don't solve the main issue...what's going on in your heart. That's something only Jesus can change and remove it from you. That's permanent.

Regards...

http://www.clear-mind-meditation-tec...echniques.html

Meditation works. Back when I was stepping on airplanes every month or so, knowing how to meditate made air travel ever so much more bearable.

If "meditation" sounds too "goo-goo" for you, call it "invoking the relaxation response."

Just divorce her

KIDDING!

This is all subjective to what's happening, why you're working on something, and the rest of the circumstances. Everyone has to find ways to decompress from stress. I go work out. If I can't take that amount of time, I still get up and move around. That's me, I'm restless. Sure I can work with great intensity, but I've also learned to hit periods of completion.

I think for me that is a key concept which I should relate.

Over the years, a point of completion was an area I've learned to be able to hit.

For instance, you are working on a fairly large project, however it is for a client. There is scope creep, because they always, always ask for more, and also there are undefined items. A very big risk is that along with the scope creep, you'll see "completion creep" where the project is continually evolving and never really complete. I've learned that this is obviously bad and also learned to be able to take that step back and find or define a point where some form of interim completion is attained and marked.

It's also another way of pointing out that when you are concentrating so very hard on that one big thing and very stressed, you may be blocking yourself, and I'm betting that if you are forced, or force yourself, to get up and divert your attention, you get back to your original task, renewed and also with a potentially different perspective and suddenly you're moving faster and getting things done better, in more unique ways which you had blocked yourself from doing before in your manic march to implement, implement, implement.

As I say, this is all largely dependent on what you're doing, and how "you" are approaching it all.

s/office/bathroom

I appreciate the replies, references, and links. I wouldn't know what to reply with other than that; it's nice to hear some outside perspectives once in a while.