Driven to Distraction
Hutchinson’s Law:
Any occurrence requiring undivided attention will be accompanied by a compelling distraction.
You’re looking at the computer, sitting with pen in hand, or staring at a blank canvas of some kind and before you know it, you’re in the kitchen making yourself a cup of tea. While the water is boiling, you might as well go to the bathroom. You take the cup of tea to your work area and sit down again and wonder if you put the milk away. Back in the kitchen, you realize you want something with your tea and by the time you get back to what you were doing, you forgot if you actually even had a train of thought to begin with. You can substitute any of the above with making a telephone call that couldn’t wait, taking the trash out, finishing something else you’ve started on, etc. etc. I’ve even found myself getting in the car to get the cookie or soda that I can’t seem to live without right at that very moment.
I think that if we’re honest with ourselves we all know the difference between when it’s time to walk away from what we’re doing to gain some perspective, and when we’re simply avoiding doing what we have set our intention on.
You may be one of those people who sets his or her sites on doing something and dives right in, barely taking time out to eat. Or, are you of the other breed that sits down and finds a million and one ways to distract yourself?
So what’s at the bottom of all this distraction?
When I’ve really examined my motives for being antsy, I’ve noticed a few things.
1. I’m having a hard time getting started.
2. I want my inspiration to happen more quickly than it is.
3. I’m stuck and am afraid the more I sit there, the more discouraged I’ll get.
4. I want to get away from the tyrant inside my head who’s telling me I’ll never get it.
5. I know I deserve to be having more fun than this.
It’s often hard to be really honest with ourselves but it is such a relief when we finally make friends with our shortcomings or temporary lulls as well as with our strong suits. When we can, we finally accept that we are human and have great gifts as well as attributes we need to develop.
What helps me stick to a task at hand is to make sure I get what I need before I begin. For me that is doing some form of exercise, eating so I’m not hungry, and that I have everything I need at my work place. I could call it a play station but then I’d be kidding myself. Even if I love what I’m about to do, I wouldn’t have to go through these steps if it were play.
If you’re new to this approach, it’s very helpful to make a list of what you need to feel settled before you start on your project. Then, put what you need for the project where it is easily attainable – not in the kitchen or some other place that will vie for your attention.
Also, give yourself the same kind of encouragement and support you would give to anyone you love. It’s easier to be creative and try on new ideas when you offer yourself a loving hand. This may sound trite, but I know the hardest whip (metaphorically speaking) I have ever experienced is the one I use to beat myself up with when I’m not performing to my highest standards.
Children who are given room to play without being criticized find their way to creative genius. They travel deeply into their subject, totally engrossed and cannot be easily distracted. It doesn’t matter how their drawing looks or how many times their building falls down and they start over again; they are so proud of their accomplishment. If we give ourselves that same free reign, we may find ourselves enjoying the passion and glee we so often see children display. And from this state, why would we ever want to be sidetracked?
“We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.” Hilaire Belloc
Jasmyne Boswell is a writing coach/editor/marketing consultant. For over 28 years she has been a midwife to professionals in all fields, helping them successfully overcome personal stumbling blocks and birth their businesses, practices and project. She uses her creative gift with the written word to help bring your ideas into form. Jasmyne can be reached at (808) 268-5807 or by visiting www.jasmyneconsulting.com.
