---
title: "Don't Get Enough Focus Time? Update Your Slack Status Often"
date: 2021-11-08
author: "David Wippel"
category: "Remote Work"
url: https://www.davidwippel.com/blog/do-not-get-enough-focus-time-update-your-slack-status-often
---

# Don't Get Enough Focus Time? Update Your Slack Status Often

When everyone on your team works remote, it's hard to spot if someone is available for a quick chat or some pairing session.

Pinging people on Slack, to know if they are free, results in a notification nightmare and an “always-on” culture. It destroys any focus time due to ongoing interruptions too.

## Create Transparency By Using Status Updates

One feature you could leverage to mitigate this problem is “status updates”. By setting your status, you are creating immediately transparency for your co-workers. Be as verbose as possible to give context.

_Some examples:_

- Fixing a bug. Focus Time for 2h.
- Editing the next blog post.
- Out for a walk. Back in about 30minutes.
- Doing client demos, I will not be available all day.

In addition, when you are not available and don't want to be disturbed you could add “Busy: DND” or “Busy: ping” (when there is slight chance you are available) to your status.

## Automate As Much as Possible

If you are using Google Calendar, the [Slack App](https://slack.com/app-pages/google-calendar) could do 80% for you by setting your slack status according to your appointments.

Or if you are using the pomodoro technique a bot like [Focus Mode](https://geekbot.com/focusmode/) is a fantastic way to let you co-workers know when your next break is coming up, and you are available for a chat.

Keep in mind that chat is synchronous. Therefore, think twice if your request really requires this kind of communication.

> Maybe you could start a forum thread instead?