what distraction could mean

A summary of thoughts based on Oliver Burkeman’s talk, ‘How Distraction Works’, from the Waking Up App.

Distraction is often positioned as an obnoxious thief — as something that takes us away from the important matters of life like our relationships and our work.

But if you really pay close attention to what’s going on in the moments leading up to you becoming distracted, you may be surprised to find that you’re at times more complicit in the crime of being led astray than you think.

When faced with a difficult problem to solve or a conversation that needs to be had, it’s not unusual to find solace in menial things like a news feed that, if you desire, can keep you occupied for hours. In these cases, you’re not diverting your attention because the news feed or menu of push notifications is more meaningful to your life, but because they’re easier to deal with.

If any of this sounds remotely relatable, then there’s an inconvenient albeit invaluable truth to come to terms with, which is that sometimes the biggest obstacle getting in the way of accomplishing important things, developing deeper relationships, and experiencing personal growth is your own unwillingness to come into contact with moments of discomfort.