How to Handle Distraction
In today’s society, there are so many distractions that it’s difficult, at times, to find ways to focus and get our work done. One problem with the Internet is that so much information gets thrown at us so quickly that we hardly have time to think about it.
Whether it’s the latest deal on a cheap an inexpensive e-book or the latest, greatest app for whatever use it has, the Internet is always there, tempting us with the quickness of access and low price to act fast and buy now. Like so many shiny objects, they whiz by us on Twitter (sometimes as promoted tweets) or pop up in our Facebook feeds.
In order to work smarter and not harder, we need to tune out the noise every now and then. To do that, I offer the following tips:
Engage in mindful meditation:
Choose a time when you’re most alert and do this simple exercise.
In a seated position (whether on the floor or in a chair), keep your head upright and your back straight, but your shoulders relaxed. Your eyes can be closed or open. I prefer to have them closed.
Breathing with your diaphragm (your lower belly), inhale for five seconds, allowing the lower belly to expand as you do. Pay attention to your breathing and the expansion of your belly as you do this.
Exhale through your nose for five seconds. Pay attention to the way your belly contracts and the sensations you feel in your nose.
If you have other thoughts or feelings during meditation, simply change your focus back to your breathing.
Repeat steps three and four. When you feel comfortable with the five-second meditation, at another second to the inhalations and exhalations. Continue doing this until you reach 10 seconds. If you notice the timing of inhalation and exclamation doesn’t match, adjust your breathing so that they do.
Try to do this for 5 to 10 minutes, once or twice a day. Preferably twice, if you can manage it.
This is the first step toward learning mindful meditation. If you’d like to learn the rest, I’ll talk about that in an upcoming blog post.
PS: I wrote this ages ago, but I have to say meditation has really helped me deal with dystonia, as well as all the mindless distractions the Internet offers.
PPS: At the moment, I can also recommend reading books like this one, which I am currently reading.
How to Do Nothing. You had me at the title! 🙂
PPPS: Always remember … don’t panic. :)
Originally published at https://randomandsundrythings.wordpress.com.
