We have all considered distraction as a negative thing. We have heard “don’t get distracted” a million times as kids and even as adults. Distractions can cause us a lot of problems. Remember those distractions that resulted in low grades in school, missing a flight or train, not being able to finish work on time, etc? Distractions have always caused us issues and resulted in waste of time and energy.

Like most things that cause problems otherwise, when administered with caution and right intention, distraction too can be used to our advantage. All of us do it with or without being aware of it. Let us draw our attention to some of the ways in which distractions can work to our advantage.

Before diving deeper into the concept of positive distractions, let us understand the science behind it. We all have a limited capacity to process information. According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, every second, our brain can process about 150 bits of information. So, we have around 150 bits of currency per second of attention in hand. That includes all awareness that we have about the body, the mind, the work in hand etc. Focus is the ability to take as much of that currency and put it into the the work that we are doing or on the object of our focus. The more focused we are, the better the quality of work we do.

Now, since there is a limited amount of currency to be spent every second, we can choose to divide it in such a way that we can take our mind away from what we are doing or thinking so that it becomes beneficial to us. This ability to shift our attention away from any negative feelings or thoughts is called a positive distraction. It is basically a distraction that provides a positive impact.

It goes without saying that using substances, that can cause harm to our health, in order to escape from the current reality cannot be considered as positive distraction.

Positive distractions are beautifully used in the following areas:

Healthcare Industry: Positive distraction is huge in the healthcare industry. Right from using it to divert attention and making the waiting room experience less stressful, to helping in dealing with pain and trauma, positive distractions play a significant role in helping patients. Listening to music through a dental surgery or using meditation to cope with pain and trauma are very powerful and beneficial tools. They cannot be termed as distractions otherwise. They are good habits and in this case they fall under the category of distractions because they are used to take our mind away from the current reality.

Workplace: In the workplace, positive distraction helps the employees to rejuvenate, refresh and recharge. This could be a small break that the employees take during the workday to get into a better mind space. A coffee break, a team lunch, a walk in the garden, a round of workout, people use different ways to take the mind away from work in order to bring it back in perspective. These small capsules of distractions help the worker to get back to work refreshed and recharged.

Get through Mundane Boring Tasks: Positive distraction can help us get through mundane boring tasks and chores that have to be done. We know these tasks don’t require too much of our attention. For example, we know we can spend our currency on watching a video or movie while doing the dishes or folding clothes. We know we can listen to songs or podcasts while driving or cleaning the house. This helps us in taking away our mind from the lack of liking towards that job.

For Motivation: Positive distraction can be tactfully used to motivate ourselves to perform better. When we need a push to cover that last mile, it is a good idea to take our mind away from the exhaustion of the task and divert it into the prospects of finishing the task successfully. A runner can lure herself into running more by thinking about something else and not the miles already covered or the miles yet to be covered.

An obvious question that can arise here is how do we know if we are using the distraction as a positive distraction or are we taking it too far. If our coffee breaks become longer than our work hours clocked in, or our chores time get replaced by TV time, then obviously it is not a positive distraction. We should be able to be in track and get through the day and it should have helped us in the process for it to be called a positive distraction. And guess what? We all know when we are crossing that line.

It is very easy to get distracted in this era of internet and social media. It has got us through difficult situations like the one we are currently in. We have all used it as a positive distraction to forget the reality of today. And those of us who have been able to draw the line and not let it seep further into our life have learnt how to use it as a positive distraction.

How else do you use positive distractions? What else do you use as a positive distraction? Do mention in the comments section below.

Image by My pictures are CC0. When doing composings: from Pixabay

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