[Paul Stenning]

The great thing with email is that you can set aside specific times to deal with it (such as beginning and end of each weekday), and leave it closed the rest of the time. Then it doesn't intrude at all.

I'm sure Chas could do the same with the phone. Get an answering machine, set it to answer only (no message recording), record an outgoing message saying when the phone line is open and that you cannot leave a message, and leave the machine on and the phone unplugged the rest of the time. If there are specific people he wants to be able to contact him at any time then get a cheap PAYG mobile and give them that number.

I work from home too. There are times when I need to eliminate all possible distractions and get on with the work, otherwise things don't get done on time.