Whether we realize it or not, distractions are a big part of our daily lives. They live in our habits and routines. As a writer, I spend a lot of time reading stories from others who share their thoughts. I recently found an article by Sarah Nicole from The Birds Papaya (thank you, Missy!) on distractions. I felt it pull on me in so many ways which inspired me to ask what is distracting you?
Being distracted in the smallest ways is so much more common than we realize. It I estimated that our brains process 50,000 – 70,000 thoughts per day. With that many thoughts running through our minds it’s easy to get distracted, especially when we have visuals at every moment in front of us.
What is distracting me?
I’ll share some distractions I struggle with for the sake of some examples. It’s a little funny actually, at this present moment, my son is playing a tambourine that his grandmother got him yesterday. Hello, distraction!
Anyway, after reflecting, here some regular things that are distracting me that I wasn’t even aware of…
Morning thoughts
Lately, when my alarm goes off I have been laying in bed for a few extra moments. I don’t use those moments for sleep, more so just to wake up before I crawl out of bed.
I notice my mind is insanely active first thing in the morning. I tend to run through everything that happened the day before and everything I have on my plate for the day ahead.
I then run through interactions with others I had over the last few days and reflect on how those interactions took place.
What is helping me?
I’ve learned to use this as a positive distraction, rather than a negative one. I use my thoughts to practice my craft of writing first thing in the morning. I typically write my blog posts between 6 and 8am while I drink my coffee and water.
Amy Landino practices this in another way, she has a journal she writes in every morning simply to get her thoughts on paper and clear her mind.
What else is distracting me? Body image
Gosh, you guys, I can’t stand even writing about this because it seems so vain but I felt it was important as I know many others struggle with their own bodies as well.
I’m just under 5’4 and 119 pounds. While I realize everyone is on their own journey with their health, this is mine. I’ve had two precious babies (who aren’t babies anymore) and my body most definitely looks different than before.
Stretch marks, extra skin and the twins
Yup, we’re going there and here’s my picture to prove it. I was terrified to post this picture but I decided to punch fear in the face (up next!)
Let’s get real…I have stretch marks all over my lower stomach, extra skin on my stomach and sides and my twins don’t sit anywhere near where they used to. Is this a distraction? Absolutely.
I notice if I gain even a few pounds my mid section looks completely different because of this extra, ahem, love, I now carry.
What is helping me?
The sheer fact that I have two healthy children helps me accept that I earned those extra marks and skin. Being a female is hard enough but looking at it as having badass tiger stripes certainly shifts my perspective and removes what is distracting me.
Talking about it is so helpful too. I know so many women would love to have these distractions because it would mean their lives and homes would be full of love and laughter.
So, I salute these body image issues and thank God above for what I have.
Fear is distracting
I don’t care who you are, we can all relate to this one. Fear is a loser and it has no place in the way of our dreams, but it certainly creeps in and distracts us.
I used to make so many decisions based on fear, which is not healthy for any of us. Here, I talk about why fear is a big fat liar.
What is helping me?
Through many years of therapy and rewiring my brain, I’ve learned to make educated decisions based on facts and data and not based on fear. Sure, I still struggle from time to time but we’re all human at the end of the day.
I’ve also learned not to react in the moment but to take a step back and evaluate the whole situation before making a decision. My honey always says “punch fear in the face!” and I love that!
Summary
What is distracting you? Do you face some of the same issues? How do you deal with your distractions?
Share your thoughts in the comments below or on Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook. Follow me while you’re at it, I love to connect!
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