Quiet hours

Quiet hours – let’s talk about focus! You know how in Agile we break down big tasks into smaller chunks? Well, our brains work the same way. We can only concentrate on one thing at a time for so long, especially with constant pings and interruptions.

Our brains are like computers, but way cooler! Imagine having multiple browser tabs open at once. Switching between them takes time and slows you down, right? That’s what constant distractions do to our brains. A ping here, a question there, and suddenly we’re struggling to remember what we were even working on.

That’s where quiet hours come in. Imagine having a dedicated time block where everyone can focus on their most important tasks without distractions. No emails, no quick questions, just deep work.

In a quite hour, you don’t check emails, no phone calls, not chatting.

Here’s why it matters:

• Sharper minds: When we can focus intensely, we get more done in less time. We avoid context switching, which is like constantly switching between those browser tabs – it fries your brain power!
• Higher quality work: Focused attention leads to fewer mistakes and better problem-solving.
• Less stress: Constant interruptions create mental clutter and frustration. Quiet hours give us a chance to breathe and tackle challenges calmly.
• Teamwork still thrives: We can schedule collaboration sessions outside quiet hours. Brainstorming and discussions are even more effective when we’ve already made progress on our individual tasks.

Include 1-2 quite hours every work day.

It might be a good idea to inform your colleagues, customers and other teams beforehand that you will have regurarly quite hours to focus on specific tasks.
If you have a lot of people coming to your room, you even might want to hang a sign “quiet hour 13-14h” in front of the door.