The phone rings. It's a friend who wants to tell you his or her latest health problems. You hate to be impolite and cut your friend off, but what can you do? Stephanie Winston, author of Stephanie Winston's Best Organizing Tips, offers his advice: Don't ask questions like "What's new?" They give the information that you have time to talk. After "hello", get right to the heart of the matter. Time your calls wisely. If you make a call right before lunch or dinner, or at the end of the workday, people chat less. Set a time limit. Start with, "Hi, I've only got a few minutes, but I wanted to talk to you about...." Or, "Gee, I'd love to talk more, but I only have a couple of minutes before I have to leave." Jump on a pause. Even the most talkative caller has to pause now and then. Quickly say, "It has been great talking with you." Then end the conversation. Forget niceties. Some people just don't take a hint. Cut your caller off and say, "I'd like to talk to you longer, but I'm afraid I have no enough time. Good bye." Then hang up. Find "a partner in crime". If nothing else works, ask someone in your home to help you. For example, one woman gives a sign to her husband, who shouts, "Jane, I think the roast chicken is burning." Avoid the phone completely. Use an answering machine to screen calls. If you have an important message for a chatterbox, leave the message when he or she isn't in.
at what times of day do people chat less?
what other time?
what should you use to screen calls?
who called in the story?
did they want to talk about sports?
what did they want to talk about?
what is Stephanie's profession?
what did she write?
how should you go about setting a time limit for calls?
what do even the most talkative callers have to do every now and again?
how should you hurry them off the phone?
what if they don't get the hint?
and then just hang up?
can a partner help you with calls?
should you use an elaborate system with hand signals?
who yelled about chicken?
whose husband?
what is another way to avoid phone calls?
can you avoid the phone completely?
what rang at the beginning of the story?
at the end of the workday,
at the end of the workday,
before lunch
before lunch
an answering machine
an answering machine
a friend
a friend 
No
latest health problems
her latest health problems
her latest health problems
author
author 
Stephanie Winston's Best Organizing Tips
Stephanie Winston's Best Organizing Tips
Start with, "Hi, I've only got a few minutes
Start with, "Hi, I've only got a few minutes
pause
pause 
Quickly say, "It has been great talking with you."
Quickly say, "It has been great talking with you."
Forget niceties
Forget niceties
Yes
Then hang up.
Yes
Find "a partner in crime"
Yes
gives a sign 
her husband
 her husband
Jane
Jane
leave the message when he or she isn't in
leave the message when he or she isn't in
Yes
Avoid the phone completely
The phone
The phone