Some distractions are good while others get in the way.
Today has not been a good writing day.
I’ve been distracted by a bad distraction – but one that’s wholly outside of my control. The loud tenants living in the apartment above us moved out.
Today, however, the management company for our complex has contractors tearing up and replacing the carpet above us.
This is not a quiet process. Today has been brought to you by the following sound effects: BANG! BAM! WHACK! KA-THACKA! Some with sufficient force to shake the whole building. Really.
Perhaps I could have switched over to my laptop and gone elsewhere. But other work needed to be done and it was more convenient to do it from my office during the loud work above me.
I got work done. But little of it has been direct for my writing practices.
But this has caused me to consider an important topic. Distractions.
While many distractions are bad – some are good. And recognizing this is important. Distractions are everywhere – and how they impact us is on us alone.
I have the power to control my thoughts, feelings, actions, and intentions. Mindfulness makes me consciously aware of these. That, then, reports to me if a distraction is good or bad.
Distractions are a fact of life. They’re so prevalent that we might not see them for what they are. But recognizing them helps us to see if they serve us – or work against us.
When I am doing my writing work – I am beholden to nobody but me. I suspect other artists and entrepreneurs face the same thing. Thus, awareness of distractions and their impact is that much more important.
Distractions that are bad
Bad distractions fall into two categories: Within your control and outside your control.
The contractors banging around above me is outside my control. Internet problems interfering with research are outside my control. Emergencies that crop up and other unexpected interruptions are all outside of my control.
When the distraction is outside of your control – you can only prepare for it by being present in the moment when it happens, dealing with it, then moving past it. For example – I accepted being unable to record my podcast and release it on time. I will record it and release it later.
But then, there are the distractions that we can control. Frequently, we don’t even recognize them for the distraction that they are.
Social media is an enormous distraction. It is all too easy to go down the Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or TicToc rabbit hole. Even with the intent of just posting a link to a blog, before I know it, I’m scrolling through and reading posts both relevant and not.
It’s not long before 10 minutes are gone. Do that 6 times a day, and an hour of distraction has happened.
Email can be a huge distraction. If, like me, you have multiple accounts – which receive relevant info – you might be checking your email once or twice an hour.
It may not seem like long at all – but then, before you know it, you’ve created 10 minutes of distractions.
Working from a computer, my phone is still at hand. If I check it from time to time – again, a distraction.
All these are in my control to work with and prevent. But I need to recognize how they can be bad.
Because each of these can also be good.
Good interruptions
Good distractions tend to be a matter of context. A necessary break, a change of direction, or some other form of reset.
Sometimes you get stuck. Or you find it difficult to focus. The work slows or grinds down. What can you do? This is where a good distraction can come into play.
For example – sometimes, when I find I am unfocused, I check out blog posts from other writers. I look over the Medium digest emails I get daily. In reading those stories, sometimes they clear any blocks I’m experiencing.
Maybe I am working on a fiction project, and I am stuck. Something about the story is just not moving. Perhaps then I go to Pinterest and look at various images in my feed to see what inspires me.
There are times a pause to have a conversation with someone on Messenger, a scroll through social media, check email, or getting up and moving around are good distractions. These can be the break or general reset that can expand your creativity. They can also reenergize you.
The key is maintenance of the distraction. You have the power to control how and for how long you’re distracted.
It comes down to recognizing what distractions there are and deciding if they are positive or negative. Then, depending on that, what you will do with them. Resist, ignore, work with and through, or whatever.
When you’re working to create something – art or whatever – sometimes you need a distraction to clear your head. It can help you find new options, discover new directions, and do even better work.
However, there is an elephant in the room we can’t ignore.
We can’t avoid distractions
Finally – this is super important – we cannot avoid distractions. Doing so empowers them and tends to make them even more distracting. That tends to turn them into negatives automatically.
Distractions ARE. Especially with all the readily available connections and tools most of us have.
We’re empowered to recognize and acknowledge this. That’s the first step to deciding whether to ignore the distraction and work through/around/against it – or – work with it. Recognizing and acknowledging the distraction tells us if it’s going to be positive or negative.
Many people strive to avoid distractions. I know that I have. The problem is – we really can’t. They’re there. Putting on blinders to avoid them does not make them go away. In many ways, it turns them into a big, enticing red button that you should never, ever, ever push. And you know you’re going to push that button.
Recognizing distractions as either good or bad is helpful because it shows you how to handle them. That paves the way to getting more art made, stories written, and work done. It also keeps you on track and in control of your day-to-day life.
What do you do with distractions?
Thank you for being part of my ongoing journey, for joining me, and for inspiring me and my craft.
This is the one-hundred and thirtieth article exploring the ongoing creative process. Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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