I’m so happy you’ve opened this newsletter, but I’m curious: is reading it a distraction from something else you think you should be doing? If so, good for you!
We’re in a cultural moment where we’re almost universally lamenting our distractability, while simultaneously downloading yet another app onto our phones which we will open religiously about 72 times a day. We buy devices to distract us from our devices (like a wooden box to hide your phone in: I love you, Marie Kondo, but seriously?). We’re being driven to distraction by our distractions.
Like every other human behaviour, though, distraction serves a purpose. Yes, many of the things we turn to for distraction are deliberately designed to have addicting features, as Jenny Odell explores in How To Do Nothing. At the same time, we actively choose many of our distractions and we can start to think more deeply about why.
As a writing coach, I spend a lot of time talking to people about process. Sometimes we talk about all the advice out there on how to get writing done; sometimes we talk about what works and doesn’t work in their own writing processes. Almost inevitably, the issue of focus comes up, or more specifically, how to find focus and hold on to it in an endlessly distracting day.
Of course we then try to tackle habits that may not be helpful such as having email open all the time or an open office door in a busy department. However, I also try to encourage my clients to think about the kinds of “distractions” that may actually serve them. I put distractions in quotes here because I probably need a different name for these activities that aren’t strictly part of the process, but are also somehow essential to the process.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s writing or any other activity that requires focus. What we need to acknowledge is that being laser focused for any more than about 20-30 minutes at a time (perhaps much less) is extremely difficult and what’s more, likely not necessary for accomplishing whatever it is you’re working on. Once you start to lose “flow” and are fighting to concentrate, your work probably isn’t that high quality anymore and you’re just making yourself grumpy, which in turn starts to poison your relationship to your work, making it harder to come back to it (either in ten minutes or the next day).
What increasingly makes sense to me is not just begrudgingly allowing for breaks and distractions, but welcoming them as necessary and beneficial. Some very prolific and acclaimed writers, Anne Lamott for example, speak about the importance of taking walks and getting outside. These aren’t things that take them away from writing; rather these distractions allow the writing to happen more smoothly because the body and mind need to be activated (or deactivated) in different ways throughout the day.
Some people really resist taking the time to get nicely set up for their work, whatever that work entails. They feel they shouldn’t “waste time” by making tea, prepping snacks, finding some nice music to listen to, tidying their desk, stretching a little, or whatever. They might feel like taking this time is just a way to procrastinate. Maybe it is, sometimes. But if it helps you eventually feel ready to sit down and focus, it’s probably worth it.
There are lots of ways that our distractions help us ultimately do more of what we want or need to do:
loosen up the body, improve blood flow, prevent the aches and pains that make it hard to focus
give us a chance to take an “emotional lap,” as one of the Peloton instructors, Adrian, likes to say after a tough set. If something has been hard in some way, we need at least a few minutes to reset before going back to work
get the mind out of any stuck spots or ruts in thinking; a walk or a few minutes looking out the window can take us away from a problem long enough to see it in a new way
reflect, even subconsciously, on what we’ve already done so we can go back and make improvements
stumble across new ideas or solutions (this can even happen on social media!)
Perhaps most importantly, welcoming some distractions as part of our working processes allows us to be kinder to ourselves. So many people already find parts of their work to be punishing; then they punish themselves for not working flat out for hours on end, often by forcing themselves to stay in front of the computer or ignoring their body’s need for food and rest.
People often share with me that they see colleagues working hard all day and want to emulate what seems like a really productive practice. But do we even know if it’s working for that person? Maybe they’re dehydrated, their eyes are sore, and the “work” they’re putting out is low quality and will take extra time to correct. Is that what we want to mimic? Even if that other person IS a happy and healthy paragon of non-stop high-quality productivity, if you would have to punish your mind and body to be like that, is it worth it?
What “distractions” do you actually need MORE of in your life?
What I’m reading: The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly: Life Wisdom from Someone Who Will (Probably) Die Before You, by Margareta Magnusson. I’ve been thinking about aging a lot recently; expect to see some writing about it here soon!
What I’m watching: Daily stage highlights of the Tour de France. I only understand about 50% of what’s happening and I truly don’t care about cycling, but ever since the Netflix series Tour de France: Unchained, I feel invested in the stories of these riders!