The word distractions has been coming up in my world lately so I thought I would write about them.
I define distractions as anything that takes your focus away from living a meaningful life.
The most common ones I hear about lately are:
- Video and mobile games
- Watching TV or movies
- Internet and social media
- Mobile phones in general
But, they can also be things like materialism, creating drama, or certain relationships. Just about anything can be used to distract you from your life.
The real issue is when being distracted becomes your lifestyle. When you find yourself ignoring the real world, not getting things done, or making your distraction the main focus of your life, it is time to check in with your heart and realign with your values.
For example, if you watch TV or play games 2 hours a night, it will average 60 hours per month. Just imagine what else you could accomplish with that time.
Now imagine spending most of each day looking at your phone. You probably already do. Your distraction will weave through almost all of the hours of your day and keep you from ever being fully present.
I’m pretty sure at the end of your life you won’t be wishing you watched more TV? It’s more likely you will be wanting to have lived fully, loved well, and left the world a better place for your having lived in it.
Here is how to stop letting your distractions control you.
Get clear on what you value and want – Identify what is most meaningful to you and a vision for what you want in your life. Let these become your main focus as you move forward.
Make a commitment – Give yourself the gift of a life you truly love. Make a decision and commit to minimizing distractions and living intentionally every day.
Schedule Downtime – You don’t need to give up what distracts you completely, just keep it from taking over your life. Allow reasonable time to simply rest, play, or enjoy what used to be a distraction in a healthy way.
Take Breaks – If you don’t want to stop completely right away, you can start by taking mini breaks from what distracts you. Keep adding more time away until you find the sweet spot between healthy use and distraction.
Letting go of distractions allows you to be present in your days and intentionally choose what will make your life more meaningful and happy.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? Why not get started today?
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