Sunday Setup
A weekly newsletter to help get your mind set up for a positive workweek.
05.11.2025 — High Momma
Procyonid Interrupted
What's more impressive than a spelling bee?
A drug smoking raccoon!
That's pretty much what officers in Springfield, OH encountered when they made — what they thought was — a routine traffic stop.
After detaining an Akron woman, Victoria Vidal, for an outstanding warrant and driving on a suspended license, officers further inspected her car and found a few more offenses. Specifically, they found crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and three used meth pipes — one of which was being held by a raccoon.
Chewy, Vidal's legally-owned pet raccoon, remained calm even though the puff-puff-pass rotation was interrupted. When the cops caught him red pawed and took the meth pipe away, Chewy simply used his highly dexterous, opposable thumbs to grab another one.
Perhaps much to Chewy's chagrin, the officers eventually confiscated all of the drugs and drug paraphernalia, then arrested Vidal and charged her with three counts of drug possession. As for Chewy, he was placed in the care of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, who ensured he'd be transported to a "safer location." But given that methamphetamine doesn't naturally occur in the wild, Chewy was essentially sent to Raccoon Rehab like Amy Winehouse.
No! No! No!
Patience, Grasshopper
How often do you get to complete a task at work, from start to finish, without being interrupted? Chances are very rarely. From emails to back-to-back meetings to the office orator that randomly stops by your desk every afternoon around 3:08 PM, it's virtually impossible to avoid being interrupted.
According to a recent Fast Company article, workers worldwide are interrupted every two minutes. Over the course of an average work day, that's up to 275 times! No wonder productivity is said to be down. But constant interruptions affect more than just what we produce, they also impact the what we feel — escalated tension, increased anxiety, fragmented attention, and depleted energy.
While it may be challenging to fight the fatigue and frustration of frequent interruptions in the office, it's not impossible. It just takes a bit of patience and consistent effort to protect your energy and stop internalizing every distraction.
For starters, instead of letting an irritated, "Not again!" mindset take over, pause for a brief moment when an interruption occurs to focus on your breath. A little deep breathing can help you recognize — and relax — that clenched jaw before you react.
But being mindful isn't just about focusing on how you feel internally. It's also about how you engage with others. When Talkaholic Taylor stops by and verbally vomits in your ears, politely protect your time by saying something like, "Hey, I want to give you my full attention, but I can't right now. I just need 20 minutes to complete something and I'll circle back with you."
You could also consider using visual signals to cue coworkers that you are busy and focused deeply on a task. Digital interruptions, like an "urgent" Slack message or a last minute meeting that pops up on your calendar, often happen because your status doesn't match your mood. Clearly communicate your need to focus — in advance — by changing your status from "Available" or blocking your calendar.
That said, I know firsthand that digital and visual cues don't always work. Some colleagues blow right passed them like a stop sign at 3 in the morning. When that happens, regardless of whether or not your urgent attention is legitimately required, try reframing the interruption from "Why don't these people respect my time?" to "While this feels disruptive to me, it might be important to them." That minor shift from annoyance to awareness can help calm your mood and temper your response.
Let's face it. Interruptions are par for the course in corporate environments, but a little mindfulness can help you avoid the sand traps. Remember to practice patience — an internal skill that radiates outward — in the midst of interruptions. Mindfully responding vs mindlessly reacting to external stimulation can help you protect your time, energy, and mental state.
And on that note, I now return you to whatever you were doing before you opened this email.
Pardon the interruption.