LOOK A PONY! Use distraction to ease ‘the grind’.

Mar 22, 2018 | Philosophies

There’s a reason that working 5 days a week, 8 hours a day (or, in the case of almost any small business owner ALL THE FREAKING TIME) is classified as ‘the grind’. It can absolutely feel that way, even when you’re doing what you love!

I find myself deep in ‘the grind’ when I’m constantly getting distracted away from the thing I’m supposed to be doing. I’ll be slumped over my computer and I’ll have to open a browser to look something up and the Google logo will be something interesting….so I hover over it, and say to myself, ‘if I know what they’re talking about I’ll click it and just read about it for a minute’ but invariably what happens is that I rarely know what they’re talking about it so I click it anyway to broaden my horizons. A perfectly reasonable use of time right?? Even when I have client work to do and people are counting on me to be on time??

Yes.

Ok hear me out! Distraction can be a good thing, when done in moderation and under the right circumstances. It can:

  • Ease painful or negative experiences

  • Reduce our impulses

  • Boost our self-efficacy and confidence

  • Improve our problem solving skills

Certainly if you have a deadline, you should meet it, even if ‘the grind’ is really getting you down. But, if you’re starting to feel the weight of your responsibilities and need some reprieve, take it. Indulge. Revel in it. Luxuriate in the simplicity of doing whatever you want. For 10 minutes.

With this power comes great responsibility. It’s important that you don’t let your day slip away here, so please try to exercise some self control. Think of it like keeping hydrated. You need to take a few sips throughout the day to avoid the excruciating thirst that will hit you all at once and require an entire afternoon to recover from. So, keep your mental capacity fresh and hydrated with a little distraction when you start to feel the pressure.

Now comes the cautionary part of our tale. DO NOT get distracted by the following:

  • Facebook

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • Donald Trump

  • Celebrity drama including or excluding Donald Trump

Instead, try these fanciful brain refreshers:

  • Talking with real people, in person, about things not related to work

  • Fresh air

  • A snack

  • Some lemon water

  • Yoga

  • Meditation

  • Tetris

  • Minecraft

  • Sudoko

Please distract responsibly!