How do you protect your time?

[StressedOutTosser]

I'm quite good at protecting my time during normal terms. For example I have 2 no-teaching days per week during term, on which I WAH and don't check emails.

What I struggle with is protecting chunks of time. I have research leave this term. I'm only two weeks in but I've already lost four days to doing bullshit stuff not research-related.

I can't just stick on an auto-reply because it's not usual university research leave (when it's much more acceptable to just fuck off and be completely unavailable) but a combination of a bit of buy-out plus a bit of research leave I didn't take a couple of years ago (long story).
And I'm teaching next term so there's still teaching stuff going on that involves me (not big stuff but the odd decision, odd email etc.)

My admin role, which I'm not absolved of, is also creeping in.

How do I protect my time? I'm trying to only check emails a couple of times per week but what else can I do? I feel like this time's being overtaken by other people and other things.

Sorry to moan.

[Nearlyalmost50]

Work 8-1 (ideally), sometimes even less but intensively using pomodoros to complete writing. Bullshit jobs in the afternoon!

[notmytea]

In your shoes I would put an auto reply on that says you're at a writing retreat and only checking emails on Fridays. Dont have to mention the retreat is your dining room table

[StressedOutTosser]

Thanks for your comments. I hadn't come across pomodoros before ut that looks like a really good technique.

The problem is I can't put an auto-reply on and only check emails once a week for the whole term. However, I will do this in chunks, starting Monday next week.

[Nearlyalmost50]

Pomodoros have revolutionized my writing. I now write everything one hour (or two pomodoros) at a time. Rarely more, but very regularly (ideally every day). I guess it's finding a technique that works for you, I'm just someone who works in short bursts whereas I have colleagues who write for hours and hours in a more sustained way.