30. Swingerbyers: Dealing with people who swing by or call for a "quick word"

If you’ve ever had your workday derailed by a coworker who “just swings by” your office or pings you for a “quick call” that turns into 20–30 minutes, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Bright Method Podcast, I’m diving into how to handle interruptions from those well-meaning—but time-consuming—colleagues I call “swingerbyers.”

We’ll cover simple, practical strategies you can implement to both prevent and manage these interruptions. From setting standing meetings and communication boundaries to using visual cues like door signs and headphones, you’ll leave with actionable tools to protect your time and focus.

We’ll also talk about how, as women in the workplace, we're often the “safe space” person in the office, and how to handle emotional unloads from coworkers.

And we'll talk about how to gracefully exit conversations that are dragging on too long and how to use friendly phrases and even movement (like getting up to grab coffee) to signal wrap-up time.

If you’re a hybrid employee, I share tips to help you match your work environment to the type of work you need to get done—so you can optimize your productivity whether you're at home or in the office.

Whether you love your coworkers but need more focused time or you're drowning in daily interruptions, this episode gives you realistic ways to take back some control. Let’s help you stay on track, get your deep work done, and still be the kind, approachable colleague you want to be—just with a few more boundaries that work for you.

🎧 Mentioned in this episode: – Episode 12: The Manager-Maker Schedule (for matching work type to work environment)

Links you might enjoy:

• 🌿 Free 5-Day Time Management Program Get five short, practical video lessons packed with realistic strategies to help you manage your personal and professional life with more clarity and calm.

• 📱 Follow me on Instagram Get bite-sized, real-life time management tips for working women—like reminders to set mail holds before travel, anonymous day-in-the-life calendars from other professional women, and behind-the-scenes looks at how I manage my own time.

• ✨ The full Bright Method™️ program If you're ready for a full time management system that's realistic, sustainable, and dare I say… fun, check out the Bright Method program. It's helped hundreds of professional women take back control of their time—and their peace of mind.