No Interruptions Day Date in the current year: December 31, 2025

Studies have shown that once we are distracted while performing a task, it can take us up to half an hour to resume that task. On average, interruptions occur every few minutes, derailing our focus and significantly impacting our productivity.

The top sources of workplace interruptions that kill productivity are constant notifications from email and messaging apps, social media and online browsing, ambient noise, inefficient multitasking, competing priorities and deadlines, cluttered workspaces, unproductive work meetings, frequent snack or smoke breaks, and colleagues stopping by to chat (or ask a work-related question – and then staying to chat).

Some of these distractions, such as unproductive meetings and competing priorities, are 100% the fault of management, but others can be easily avoided if make the commitment to do so. Sure, breaks are necessary, but frequent breaks kill your productivity instead of motivating you to return to work with renewed vigor.

No Interruptions Day was created to educate people about the most common workplace interruptions and help them manage distractions. Its origins are unclear, but there is no doubt that this holiday can be very useful, especially for those who want get all their unfinished business done and start the new year with a clean slate. How can you celebrate No Interruptions Day?

Challenge yourself to a digital detox. Gadgets are one of the biggest distractions these days. If you want to get something done today, turn on your phone’s do not disturb mode, put the phone away, and get to work. You will be amazed at how productive you can be when you are not distracted by checking email, answering texts, scrolling through feeds, and browsing the web.

Clean up your desk. If you’ve already completed all your tasks, consider cleaning up your desk and decluttering your workspace. No Interruptions Day is the perfect opportunity to get rid of anything you don’t need: old sticky notes and business cards, junk mail, old pens and markers, etc.

Organize your digital workspace. If your desk is spotless, take some time to organize your digital workspace: answer unanswered emails, delete old and unnecessary emails, organize files on your Google Drive, update your address book and calendar, etc.

Rethink your work-from-home environment and routine. If you work from home all the time or several days a week, it can be helpful to think about factors that may be hindering your productivity and eliminate them. Maybe it’s time to invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones, reorganize your workspace to make it more isolated from the rest of your home, or have a talk with your family or roommates about not distracting you when you’re working.

And before you put your phone away, don’t forget to post about the holiday on social media using the hashtag #NoInterruptionsDay to encourage others to participate.