Ask HN: How do you avoid people distracting you at work?

actionable advice:

The adult: Use your words "I have my headphone on, that means please do not disturb." or make eye contact slowly shake your head 'no' It's especially difficult when the person is a repeat offender. But don't forget you would be helping not just yourself, but them AND all the people they might bother in the future. You might even need to go to your lead or supervisor or HR. Don't dismiss your need to get your work done. They're wasting your time and the company's money.

The easy: Don't respond. That's kinda a lame move, but oh well.

The difficult: Put a red light on your monitor. Turn it on when you're working, refuse to answer any questions until your done. Don't do this.

Otherwise, if you are in an environment where people higher up will not empathize and tell you that this just makes you guys more creative:

a) Look for another job b) In the meantime, print out a quirky message on a piece of paper, to appear friendlier, asking the potential interrupter whether what they need is urgent, and if it's not, to try hitting you on slack if you have your headphones on (or in general even). It should work.

You don't even have to play music if you don't want to - just put a pair of cheap headphones on your head.

If this is the case, I'd highly recommend finding a place that values your productivity.

Together you guys can decide what works best for your environment. It could be headphones, no-disturbance period or the opposite (office hours / collaboration period).