I've Blamed Technology for Causing People to Live Distracted Lives for Years, but Now I Believe I’ve Identified the Real Culprit

Do you ever feel bombarded by information overload? Does it make you feel paralyzed with indecision? Have you ever wondered how you’re supposed to move forward when everything feels overwhelming? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you’re not alone. I don’t know about you, but I am easily distracted. I talk with so many clients who feel the same way, and it’s not surprising, is it?

We’re constantly bombarded by information, and a recent study I read revealed that the average American checks their phone over 300 times per day. After reading that I tried to keep track of the number of times I felt compelled to look at my phone in one day, and I learned that even since I started enacting my “No Phone Zone” I still check my phone countless times daily.

I don’t want to live a distracted life because we were created for more than that. I have goals that require my full attention and emotional investment, so I’m continuing to examine my patterns and put habits in place to live less distracted.

Reducing my cell phone usage has helped, but I still face temptations to hold my phone too closely. Sometimes I find myself antsy because I’m waiting for a response to something I said in a text. Other times, I’m not looking at anything in particular; I’m just scrolling social media feeds.

What feed grows, so I’ve deleted certain apps (Twitter) from my phone because I don’t want to look up an hour later and realize that I’ve consumed nonsense from strangers with negative opinions on everything (like I have in the past). Lately, I’ve also started the daunting process of building my website too, and the onslaught of information on that topic is overwhelming!

It’s an incredible gift to live in a time in which we can access information about any subject at any time, but we must be careful not to let it steal our attention or reduce our quality of life.

I’ve blamed technology for a lot of my distractions, and I think it’s valid. I just think it goes deeper than that. Many of us have blurred lines between work and home, which can make it hard to focus on one thing at a time. I’ve also blamed the stack of assignments I have due each week and other commitments on my distracted state, but now I believe the true culprit is my mind. And I bet the same thing is true for you.  

I’m reflective, which is something I love about myself. I’m aware of my thoughts, emotions, strengths, and fears, which can be helpful as I approach new projects and cultivate goals. I’m good at identifying goals, but it takes a lot more work to put those goals into action. And I cannot count how many times I’ve found my mind drifting to things that I’m dreaming of and hoping for, things I’m worried about, etc.

Have you ever found yourself scrolling mindlessly through your phone while someone is talking to you only to realize you have no idea what the person in front of you just said? Or have you ever found yourself sitting at your desk thinking about the trip you can’t wait to go on or the lunch you have coming up? Do you ever replay conversations in your mind adding the things you wish you had said at that moment?

I let my mind wander frequently, and most of the time, I don’t realize it’s happening. And to be clear, I don’t think it’s always a bad thing, but I do want to be aware of what’s happening around me now. I want to enjoy the little moments in my life instead of wishing away ordinary days and waiting for the “big” things.

Even as I write this, I’m seeking to recognize when my mind starts to wander, and I’m making a conscious effort to reduce the noise inside my mind so I can finish what I started.

If we don’t learn to control our thoughts, we’ll never control our outcomes. My strategy is to be like the turtle – to make progress at a slow and steady pace, but it’s easy to become paralyzed with indecision when I don’t control my thoughts. I’m determined to learn to manage my attention because I think required to live my best life.

Here’s the list of steps I’m currently taking to reclaim my attention and live less distracted.

1.     Recognize when your mind starts to drift. As I said, sometimes that’s okay, but we should be engaged with our thoughts enough to make a conscious decision to let our thoughts drift or not.

2.     Appreciate the moment you’re in right now. For me, at this moment that means taking a minute to enjoy the sunshine and the sound of the windchimes that I love hearing outside my back door.

3.     Practice existing rather than doing. I don’t know about you, but as someone who enjoys achieving things, it is extremely difficult to be still. (I don’t mean just physically but mentally and emotionally). My thoughts don’t have an “off” switch, so I must be intentional about allowing myself to take deep breaths, sit in silence, and refocus.

Scientific evidence suggests that our minds will always wander, and I’m okay with that. I just don’t want to waste my most precious commodity – time – because I’m always distracted.

Do you feel like you’re living a distracted life? If so, do you agree that your thoughts are the biggest culprit? What would you add to my list of steps to reclaim your thoughts?