What’s the first thing I did? Checked my phone. Not because anything urgent was happening, but because the blank document was sitting there, staring at me, and suddenly Instagram seemed fascinating.
It’s not that I’m lazy. God, I wish that were the problem. I’ve read all the productivity books, bought the apps, set the timers, even tried that deep work nonsense. And yet, somehow, there’s this tiny moment of “ugh” that creeps in right before any meaningful work. And before I know it? I’m three videos deep into someone’s pantry makeover.
Once I started paying attention, I realized this pattern was everywhere. That email I’ve been avoiding? Suddenly my desk needs a full reorganization. That uncomfortable conversation? Oh look, my plants are desperate for water. It’s like my brain has a master’s degree in creative avoidance.
So, here’s what I’ve been trying lately. Spoiler: it works sometimes, and other times I’m still watching pantry videos.
When I catch myself reaching for a distraction, I pause. Not to judge myself, but to get curious. What’s actually happening here? Usually, it’s something squirmy and uncomfortable—like that feeling when you’re not quite ready for something but you also know you’ll never be 100% ready.
The other day, I literally thought, “I’ll start this project once I’ve achieved inner peace.” Which… might take a while.
What seems to help (when I remember to do it):
- Just naming the thing I’m avoiding. Like, “Oh hey, there’s that proposal I’m pretending doesn’t exist.”
- Taking one ridiculously small step. Not “write the whole thing,” but “open the document and type one bad sentence.”
- Letting it be uncomfortable for 30 seconds. This one’s the hardest. Sometimes it passes. Sometimes it doesn’t.
- Doing a quick round of EFT tapping—just a few points, right there at my desk, tapping on, “Even though I don’t feel like doing this, I’m okay.” Sometimes it’s enough to nudge me back into focus. Sometimes it just makes the ugh a little less sticky.
I’m not great at this yet. Yesterday, I spent 20 minutes reorganizing my bookmarks instead of starting an important project. But I’m noticing the pattern more. And sometimes—just noticing it is enough to break it.
Maybe that’s the trick. Not fixing everything at once, but seeing what’s actually happening. Even if what’s happening is that you’re watching your seventh consecutive video on someone’s morning routine while your taxes are still waiting.
So next time you catch yourself avoiding that thing, maybe pause. Name it. Tap on it if you want. And take one ridiculously small step. Baby steps, right?
If distraction feels overwhelming, a quick 90-second reset can help—llearn how.
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