We have all had to adapt to a virtual world, and while many workplaces are seemingly reverting to their previous in-person environments, many workers are still working remotely or on a hybrid schedule. Many of us know that working from home isn’t just us sitting on the couch in comfy clothes waiting for a work task to be assigned. For some of us, we are working longer and harder than when we were in the office.

No matter what field you work in, there are always going to be unexpected surprises that pop up throughout the day that take you away from what you are working on. Sometimes these surprises take a couple of minutes, while some may take hours. There are ways to manage these surprises and feel productive and accomplished at work.