> do things around the house

This sounds like advice specific for WFH, but it also applies to people working at the office.

The other person may be talking to someone else, in an unscheduled meeting, having a coffee, or simply have notifications off to be able to focus. I used to have them off for most of the day, and just check for messages at a half hour interval, otherwise it’s a total productivity killer. In a real emergency people will reach for a phone call.