I think part of the reason why we struggle to get things done or end up on the couch scrolling through social media even-though-it-is-unproductive-but-it-makes-us-feel-as-though-we-are-doing-something-but-really-we’re-avoiding-doing-that-thing-we-should-be-doing, is because we are distracted.
We struggle to get things done because we have too much to distract us.
If I don’t want to do work, I have many options. I can do any one of (or all) the following:
- Watch a YouTube video
- Scroll on social media
- Check my phone notifications
- Open my emails
- Shop online
I can do many other things, too, but these are usually the common culprits.
We can spend all the time in the world blaming everything else for why we distract ourselves, but the truth is, we all do it. We all get distracted, and we all have distractions.
Distraction is defined as “a thing that prevents someone from concentrating on something else.”
I think the reason why distraction is alluring is because it gives us “relief” from that thing we are avoiding. But by the end of it, we feel frustrated for giving it our time when we could have been doing something else.
What fuels distraction is the attention we give it. Distractions will be there all day, every day, but we don’t need to give it our attention. As a writer, this is important to recognise. While it’s good to take breaks from writing, there is a kind of distraction that is soaked in mind stimulation that won’t allow the boredom we need for creativity.
Let me elaborate.
When we take breaks and give that time to distracting activities, we continue the cycle of stimulation. Constant distraction doesn’t allow for moments of boredom: distraction jumps with its hands up in the air saying, “Look at me! Look at me!” It gives us something to focus on, and our minds don’t get a break due to constant stimulation.
Yet, say, for example, I take a break from writing a book and decide to do the dishes. Although I am still doing a task, my mind is free to wander. Doing the dishes doesn’t require extreme focus; it enables me to go into auto-pilot mode and allow myself to be bored with the process, and my imagination is present with endless possibilities.
When we are bored, our minds can take a break from the constant stimulation, and creativity is often at its finest.
While we don’t need to literally stop and sit with our eyes closed and breathe (although that’s great, too) in order to experience creativity, it’s useful to allow time for seemingly “tedious” tasks—pulling out weeds, washing dishes, folding clean clothes—that give us breaks and allow our minds time to wander. Or if those things aren’t your preferred activities, why not try colouring in, drawing, knitting or painting—things where your mind isn’t constricted but can wander, and creativity can flow?
To all the writers out there, I encourage you to take breaks and next time you’re tempted to be distracted by something that will keep your mind busy, why not use that time for a “creative boredom break” instead? See how your mind enjoys the boredom from everyday tasks that often get a bad rep but are perhaps wonderful gifts for us hidden in mediocrity.
The Editing Eagle 