I just looked up a book about how to focus in a distracted world and I couldn’t make it through the description because I got distracted.
I wish this was me trying to be funny or something but, alas, that just happened. Seriously.
I’m not sure if this means I desperately need the book or it would be a bad fit because the author can’t hold the attention of his target audience long enough to buy his book.
In my defense, it’s a fairly lengthy description.
And I’m not always that easily distracted but… Ooh! Shiny!
When there is a lot going on (there is) and stuff keeps piling up on top my head (it does), I get overwhelmed then become easily distracted.
This got me thinking, as these things do, and now I’ve completely lost it and am in some deep philosophical discussion with myself about metaphysics and if the phone is actually ringing and if I’m even real.
So that’s the deal with my life right now. How are you?
My Sunday thoughts in 200 words or less.
How do you focus with all the distractions out there? By the way, should any of you lovely readers like to check the book out, the link is up there and it’s called Deep Work. I (obviously) haven’t read it but Sacha Black recommends it. 🙂
This cracked me up. I know exactly what you mean about being distractible (and some book descriptions are really boring). Some days I think there shouldn’t be so many shiny things in the world. 🙂
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Yes, you know, you’re right. How dare there be so many shiny things in the world. Pfft! How can anyone focus with all those shiny things distracting us?
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Focusing through all the distractions that modern life throws at us is a real challenge. I find if I focus on what’s important, everything else fades into the periphery.
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This is a good idea. Consciously focusing on the important things would definitely make the other things fade. Almost like meditating. Kind of. Good idea, regardless. Thanks!
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what were you saying…? It’s not so much a problem more a way of life… just go with it…
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Ah. The voice of reason. Are you really this carefree? I mean, are you a super laid-back person or do you just play one on TV? I’ll try to go with the flow but I’m afraid I’ll be swept away with the current. (Love Peter’s sketch for this post! Thanks, again, for that lovely gift. He’s so talented.)
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Indeed a talented family… well bits of it. Yep I’m laid back but not as much as Linda or Sam… well I think I am anyway
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Yes. A talented family. 🙂
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LOL, snorted hard reading this! It’s not the most easy going read I’ll be honest. But damn is it good!
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I know, right? I had to post about the ridiculous irony of this. 😂 I believe you. I’ll try the book again.
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Love the illustration. From the Le Pard stable? Anyone I should know? I agree. I’m distractible. Sometimes there’s just too much going on, I have to know everything! I hope things settle for you soon.
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Isn’t it awesome? Look on the fridge, over the calendar: Peter Le Pard 🙂
There is always too much going on. Sometimes there is more on top of the too much. That’s when I get easily distracted. I hope things settle down, too! Don’t know how long I can keep this up. Hope things are manageable on your end.
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Hi Sarah. My comment about the Le Pard stable was in response to seeing Peter’s name over the calendar. Any relation to Geoff?
There is always far more to do than I have time for. I never catch up. Give me another lifetime or two, please!
Look after yourself. Accept distractions as part of reality. Accept all that is wonderful you.
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Ah. Completely misread that. Sorry. Yes, it is one of the Le Pard clan. Geoff’s talented nephew. No family should have that much talent. (Oops…pardon me, my envy is showing.) 😉
Accept. Yes. “Accept” was my One Word this year. I must accept. And look after myself. Oxygen mask on self FIRST then others…
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Distractions happen and I’m actually coping with this a bit lately. Not happy about it, but it is what it is. Here’s to shiny! lol. I think I’m coping with a bit of the same and this week tried a couple of different things to have a with and without methods to concentrate. The difference was ridiculous and the things that helped for me were minimal. Sat at a different area in my work area, literally moved 3 feet. Left the phone far from me and set a timer. Made a list of to-dos with time assigned. The day I did this, I got through 11 important tasks, plus my day job work. Winged it another day… it didn’t go well lol. So it just means I have to super focus rather than being the default setting. Best of luck and here’s to focus and happiness.
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Ugh…the dreaded list of things to do. I have a post I just finished that’s going up in a few days about that. I hope you can visit next week and tell me how they work for you. You know, sometimes the most minor changes help. I should focus on those. Ten minor things instead of two major ones. Or will those ten things just be another set of distractions? 🤔 I try the focusing techniques and wind up winging it because…distractions. Calls, emails, kids, work, emails, texts, blogs, emails… Yup. Here’s to focus and happiness. May we find both.
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Will check out that post and see if it helps. 😀 And it all depends on the week. Mixing it up and finding my winning formula is the battle. Not half the battle. THE battle. To focus and happiness indeed.
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Sorry. I meant I need YOU to help ME. 😉 I’m always asking for help here…
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ah that!!! lol Ok, let me see what I can come up with and will give it a go 🙂
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Much the same, I fear. Maybe worse, because–brace yourself–it only gets worse as you get older! At 73, I’ve made this an art form. But in my defense, I always get back to my original task, thought, goal, or destination. Not always the same DAY, you understand, but I’m willing to settle for eventually. 😀
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Noooo. Really? I don’t want it to get worse. Can I wish it away? Can I stomp my foot and demand it gets better as I get older? This is not good news, Marcia. Except that you always (eventually) get back to the task at hand. 🙂 That’s promising. Sort of…
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Now you’re talkin’. You just need to adjust your expectations a bit, that’s all. Distractions are fine. Life would be boring without the shiny bits. So, I say enjoy them, then get back to what you were doing before they caught your eye. If you can remember what that was, of course.
Lists help. I make LOTS of them. Then I cross things off as I get back to them, OR (and this is more typical) cut and paste them under another day. 😀
Distractions, cool. Expectations, annoying habits that set us up for disappointment. Who needs ’em?
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Oh no. Lists… I have a post on those bloody things for this weekend. Hope you can help with some ideas. You know, I really should differentiate distractions from expectations. Then we throw responsibilities into the mix and we’ve got ourselves a mud pie. (Not the chocolate kind…)
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You’re very real Sarah. Unless I am dreaming all of this on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Thanks for your thoughts. Juliet
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Ah. Good to know. Though… You could be dreaming. 😉
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I get distracted easily, too. There’s just so many things screaming for attention these days. Sigh. I’m working hard at only paying attention to things that move my goals forward. 🙂
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There really are so many things screaming at us. Everything needs our attention. And it’s just not possible. Someone made a similar comment about focusing on the important things. That requires letting go of a lot of other things screaming for our attention… I’ll try. Thanks, Lisa.
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No problem. I’m certainly no expert, that’s for sure! 🙂
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I don’t know anyone who is. 😉
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I’ll hop on the distraction train with you. Now off to check out Sacha’s recommendation. 🙂 x
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Hop on, Debby. Off we go… Destination unknown. 😳 (I’m going to check it out again, too.)
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🙂 🙂 Choo choo. ❤
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😀
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Squirrel!
Funny, Sarah. Are you distracted or simply a multitasker with lots of open projects?
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You have this way of making me get all philosophical with your questions. Am I distracted? Am I I multi-tasking? I’ve always said I can NOT multi-task. I suppose I meant I can’t do it well. That doesn’t mean I’m not doing it. And you’re spot on with having lots of open projects. Plus life. 😖 It’s… *spots acorn* *runs away*
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You seem fully capable doing that thing called life, so live it up.
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I’m trying. Thanks, Diana.
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I sometimes have to leave my phone in another room so I can get on with things…
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You know, I did that for a few weeks and, I’m not sure about distractions, but I remember being happier in general. There must be something to that. Don’t know why I stopped but time to start that again. Thanks, Icy.
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I busted out laughing at your opening paragraph! Laughed again at your third. Seriously, if someone is going to target a distracted audience…holding attention matters! Did I tell you, I got a house! And chickens…! No, I don’t have chickens, but the place we are renting is next door to free range chickens and I’m going to be mightily distracted. What were we talking about? 😀
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A house! Chickens! 🐔 That is so cool! 🙂 Distraction with feathers. Sounds like a nice distraction.
I know, that first paragraph… I had to post it. It’s so ludicrous.
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Look chickens! Ah, but no house. Not yet. But I hope it’ll have chickens.
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It will have chickens. (And, if it doesn’t, it will have something better.) 🙂
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Pomodoro technique helps me focus and also take physical therapy breaks so I can stretch or walk every 25 minutes. I use my phone timer: Pomodoro Technique And I turn it off when I want to get lost in writing and not be interrupted by a timer.
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Ooh! Thank you. Will look that up ASAP. As long as I don’t get distracted and find this comment in a week. 😜
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Ha, ha! I also use this as physical therapy. I break up my exercises and every Pomodoro (via cell phone timer) I do a portion of sets, stretches or yoga breaths. Which bears mentions again how much that yoga book you once sent me had helped. It has the right amount of adjusted moves that I can do! Look! Chickens doing yoga!
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Argh! And you’re reminding me that I’m not using that book! It’s a great one. Well, I am very happy to hear that it’s helpful. 🌸🙂🌼 I’ve sent the link to myself for the Pomodoro method.
Chickens doing yoga. 🐔 That should be the title of a book. If it’s not, you should use it.
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I am very distracted and sometimes technology has something to do with it. I need more sleep and I am not getting it.
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Oh, I know that feeling, Tony. The technology, yes. But I am definitely not getting enough sleep. Here’s to functioning better with more sleep! 😴
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Reminds me of when I had difficulty getting through Peck’s “Delaying Gratification” section of “The Road Less Traveled” because I kept putting it down to read something more fun! Great post, nice to know I’m not al… oh, look!
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Ha! 🙂 No, you are in good company it seems from the comments here. Thanks, Lynn. Hope you have a lovely, distraction-free day.
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Pfft! I have the concentration of a…SQUIRREL!
The distractions have really hit hard in my writing. It’s “I want to kill this character” but wait! I need redo this event first. And in the middle of redoing that event, I decide I need to write something else to clarify issues early in the story… and look, that character is still alive. Doh.
I hope things calm down in Sarahland.
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Things never really calm down in Sarahland. When one thing is taken care of, another takes its place. 😜 Ah, distractions in writing. That’s a whole new post! Yes, I can see that. (And it sounds wicked frustrating.) My issue is more that I get distracted from one project and start working on another. Hope things calm down at the Townsend and you get to kill someone. Erm…your character, that is.
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I am also easily distracted. 🙂 I’m learning to work with it.
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That’s an idea. Geoff made a similar comment. So don’t fight it, just go with it? How’s that working for you? (I’m not being sarcastic, I’m actually wondering.) 🙂
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It works for me. If I keep fighting a distraction, it stays in my mind and I can’t concentrate. If I just do whatever it is, or at least make a note of it if it’s a really long task, then I can just go back to my writing and concentrate for a while. 🙂
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Ah! Yes. Kind of like an intrusive thought? You try so hard not to think about it that, obviously, that’s exactly what you wind up doing?
If I do the thing distracting me, who knows when (or if) I’ll get back on task but I do like your idea of writing it down. Thanks! 🙂
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This is so us…. had to chuckle (and pass it on as a “Guest Post”)…..
Now what was I saying? Oh, yes…..Hubs and I will often say to each other.
“Weren’t you going in to do {fill in the blank}?”
The other would reply by saying….”Saw something shiny.”
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Haha! “Saw something shiny.” 😀 I get it but do love that response. When someone forgets to do something around here, that’s what we’re going to say now. It makes the situation less annoying, more amusing. Thanks for sharing!
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Pingback: We Are Living in a Distractible World and I Am a Distractible Girl — Lemon Shark – Drawing on Words
You’re welcome 👍
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🙂
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