Tip for writing at home when you're not alone

Here's something Jane Karwoski, an adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, started recently that seems to really work to keep family members from interrupting her when she's writing at home:

"I put my ID badge around my neck! That way even when I am away from my desk my husband knows I'm working even if not in my office. It also helps ME stay on task.

I show a video to my History of Psych class about B. F. Skinner's Basement (where he wrote). He connected a timer to his desk lamp. When his children came down to talk to him he would turn that light off. He would then turn away from his desk and give them his undivided attention. When the chat was concluded, he would turn the light (and therefore the timer) back on. Great way of easily keeping track of how much of the day he was really getting some work done, but still being accessible to his kids.

It would be possible to combine these two approaches in a very low tech manner. In addition to my I.D. badge, I could add a lightweight stopwatch to click on and off. Over the top? Perhaps, but I think it would be a good reality check and reveal the true extent of my distractibility!

(If you MUST have it linked to your lamp, you could try your past issues of Popular Electronics or check this site to look for an appropriate How To article.)"