I happened to come across this very simple tip.

If you’re working on something, make sure you turn off sounds in IM programs. What I mean is that you should tell Gaim, MSN, ICQ or whatever you’re using to shut the hell up while you’re working on those extremely important documents.

It’ll save you time. Imagine yourself trying to do your important report for your boss - which happens to be due tomorrow in a crowded room where everybody’s talking. Not the ideas environment, eh?

Turn off those sounds while you’re working on something, it’ll help you.