By Leo Babauta
In this webinar, I talked about why we give in to distractions, and then give three methods for creating despite the pull of distractions. I also answered a bunch of member questions, listed below.
Here’s the outline of my talk:
I. Why we give in to distractions
- easy, comfortable, pleasurable
- vs uncomfortable, overwhelming, struggle, feeling incompetent, uncertainty
II. First method: Intention & space
- set intention before start
- clear distractions
- create a mental space
- write little tasks in notebook or text file
III. Second method: Creating Reward
- make it super easy (small easy tasks)
- accountability
- check lists (accomplishment)
- pause with a feeling of accomplishment afterward
- play
IV. Third method: Staying with Groundlessness
- what is groundlessness
- we don’t like it, want to avoid it, go to solid ground
- this leads to distraction, procrastination
Questions I answered
- I find it very difficult to maintain habits, and the habit forming process takes a lot of energy
- Do you feel that it is important to create early in the morning to do it right away? or is it ok to do it later in the day?
- Any online resources you’d suggest to learn more about groundlessness?
- I have been practising daily lunchtime yoga. I am studying hypnotherapy, love the practical but the essays I really struggle with writing without distraction from online research.
- My biggest challenge is my child coming and leaning on me “whatchu doing?” He seems to have an innate sense of when would be least convenient to come talk to me.
- While establishing a new habit, and maintaining another–difficulties in avoiding distractions for the secondary habit especially in the evening when already fatigued!
- How do you deal with panic?
- Do you have a recommendation for when life gets in the way and steers you off track for a long stretch of 2 weeks. The struggle is getting back on track.
- Do you find that it is important to focus on your creation habit first thing in the morning?
- I seem to deal with distractions and Co. in most of activities, including writing. Except my scientific work. I used to deal also here and now I feel completely groundless. How to come back?
- Do you have more suggestions for accountability? I can always find an excuse or reason not to do something.
- How would you deal with the distraction of others being/needing to be in the same physical space where you create, especially at your peak creative time?
- What do you tell or yourself when you fail and need to start over the next day?
You can watch the webinar below, or download the video or just the audio to your device.