We are immensely creative beings, we humans. And for that, sometimes we pay dearly. We make ourselves crazy with running around, trying to cover everything and not forget everything, while also making sure we never miss a Facebook post or the latest tweet.
It’s really no wonder we get distracted. There is just so much to look at these days. And that’s just the stuff outside of our brains. The carnival that is happening in our own brains is another enormous source of seemingly endless distraction material.
Just in case you are beginning to think you don’t get distracted, I thought I’d give you some reminders of how you might lose your way:
- wondering if your bill payments got to their destination
- admiring your clutter
- thinking you should really schedule that dentist appointment
- remembering today is recycling day
- getting into arguments with people to get yourself out of some work you want to avoid
- minding someone else’s business
- caring about what other people think of you
- feeling guilty about not calling your grandmother
- focusing on how you are appearing to others rather than focusing on how you are being with others
- shopping for an extra two hours more than you needed to
- figuring out excuses why you shouldn’t do what you really should be doing
As you can probably figure, this list could go on forever. So — how do we creative human beings gain some traction on the ever-growing list of distractions? Here are a few ideas about how to think about distractions and your tendency to use them:
- Distractions are everywhere. Make peace with that fact.
- You have the power to choose how to work. With distractions or without. Some people do well with background smells and sounds of a coffee shop. Others need a silent, uncluttered environment. Decide which camp you fall in.
- There are positive elements to distractions, such as daydreaming, which can help you to take a break or to come up with a new, creative idea. Creativity itself often involves taking our minds and hearts into a new zone.
- Try your best to distinguish when you are using distractions positively, to rest or to create, and when you are using them to avoid or to distance yourself from things you feel are stressful. That extra bit of mindfulness can make all the difference when you are really aiming to get something done.
To take care of the entire list of distractions above, use the following techniques:
- Write all of your floating thoughts about things that are due on a paper calendar, so you’ll remember to take the recycling out without having to think about that idea over and over again.
- Do some housecleaning. By that I mean, take care of the smaller items on your list of to-do's that have been neglected because you have been minding the bigger items. I'm borrowing the housecleaning idea from Leo Babauta because it is great. I used his suggestion a few days ago, and it really was terrific.
- Mind your own time. Don’t give it away to other people unless you really want to and it benefits you in some way. Don’t get overly involved with other people’s business.
- Automate your bill payments. Take a few minutes today to get this done and save time and aggravation (and money) right away.
- Simplify your life. That reduces the need for the shopping distraction. It also does away with the clutter distraction.
- Call grandma today (or another loved one) today.
- Don’t get too elaborate in the how’s and why’s of it. The excuses drain your motivation and take you in the wrong direction. Move forward towards your goal and be on the lookout for moments when you are tempted to veer off course. If you spend 95% of your working time coming up with reasons to fear your work or to run away from it, rein yourself back in. Press pause on your brain. If you are working overtime to concoct scenarios that don’t exist, e.g. “I can’t do this,” or “She hates me,” then you won’t be able to work at all.
If you have tried all of the above techniques and you find yourself hopelessly vulnerable to distractions, I’d recommend you consult with a professional. You may have an attention or an anxiety problem which might be significantly helped by the assistance of a psychologist or a psychiatrist.
Best wishes as you try to get on top of your distractions. As always, I wish you luck in your endeavors.
