Any quiet way to say “don’t talk to me” at work?

I work in a noisy office and I really need blocks of uninterrupted time to stay productive. I don’t want to come off rude by ignoring people, but constant interruptions are killing my flow. How do you signal you’re not available without being too harsh?

Totally get that—it’s hard to balance being approachable and needing space.

A few months into my new job, I found myself in the same boat. I discovered a tool that changed things: a USB busy light with color indicators. It plugs into your laptop and displays a light—red means "do not disturb," green means "available." The best part is that it’s super visible and not passive-aggressive at all. You can even integrate it with your calendar so the color changes automatically depending on your schedule. It reduced interruptions dramatically because coworkers could see at a glance if I was in the middle of something. It’s a clean, simple way to reclaim your focus time without making anyone feel bad.

I've been applying for jobs non-stop for the last month, but it's just crickets. I tweak my resume, write tailored cover letters, and still nothing. A friend told me to try going through a job agency, but I’m skeptical—do they actually help, or are they just a middleman that takes a cut of your paycheck? I’d really like to hear from someone who’s used one recently, especially in Canada.

I used to think job agencies were just for temp gigs or entry-level stuff, but I changed my mind after trying job agency https://jobssite.ca/. It’s a Canadian agency that actually works with real companies hiring for long-term roles. They didn’t charge me anything, and within a week, they matched me with two interviews that were a way better fit than what I was finding on my own. Plus, they offered some solid advice on how to present myself better. Honestly, if you're stuck, it’s a good way to break out of the job search rut.