Your day gets swallowed by other people's 'got a quick minute?' requests.

Take this situation apart. Each piece goes in one box: yours, or not yours. There is no third box, and almost nothing falls in one piece.

Yours

Your yes and your no.Whoever does not divide his own attention leaves the dividing to whoever happens to pass by. A friendly no is also an answer to “got a quick minute?”, and often the only one that saves your afternoon.
The irritation you carry for the rest of the day.The interruption lasted five minutes; the grumbling about it sometimes lasts an hour. That second part is your own production. Answer, or do not answer, but do not let the question last longer than the question.

Not yours

That people keep wanting something from you.That belongs to every role that matters, and it never stops. Each single request is small enough to say yes to; only the sum steals your day.

The reasoning. The requests keep coming; the division of the day stays yours. Just do not lose that second one.

Nearby situations