Is it Distraction or Diversion?
We all know what distraction feels like. You know, you log into Facebook or Instagram to do a quick post or check for a message...and 30 minutes later...you’re still there watching some cat video. Maybe your phone starts pinging or someone pops into your space to ask a question. Whether it was an action you took or interference from someone else, a distraction takes you off course. It fills your time with the unimportant and takes you away from what you want to focus on.
Now, not every time you find yourself pulled off your intended task and into something else is it a bad thing. Too often we’re hard on ourselves for not following a straight line. We start task A. We must finish task A before even looking at task B. While there is some validity in that--task switching eats up enormous amounts of our time--sometimes, a DIVERSION can actually be the next right step in the process.
The creative process is a tricky thing. It doesn’t always flow in a linear fashion. In fact, it usually doesn’t. Take this blog post, for example. As much as it would make sense to start with the first line and continue to write all the way until the very last period, I usually don’t. Maybe I start with point two. Then, I head over to point three, which gives me a great idea for my opening paragraph. I finish with point one only to realize that it works better after point two. And in the midst of it all, I suddenly get a flash of what my graphic should be. While I feel inspired--probably between writing point three and the introduction--I’ll go create all my graphics.
It all gets done. Just not necessarily in a very straightforward manner. And that’s okay.
A few years ago, I created an evergreen course. All the experts said that I needed a day to do all of my slides and graphics. Then, I was supposed to take another day to do my transcripts. On another day (or two), I do all of my recordings. Batching your tasks is a good thing. It makes you more efficient!
It was a disaster. I would get a few slides in and hit a block. No inspiration or ideas...but my brain was going nuts over what I was going to say in the transcript. “No,” I told myself. “You need to stay on track. No distractions.”
But it wasn’t a distraction. It was a creative diversion.
After much frustration and hours wasted, I gave in. When I felt pulled to a different part of the project than what I was currently working on, I allowed myself to switch. Because the tasks were related and one fueled ideas and inspiration for the other, I didn’t have the slow start and time wasted that happens with task switching. Instead, it all flowed effortlessly.
So, how can you tell if a task is a distraction or a diversion? Here’s three questions to ask yourself to find out:
1. Is this moving me toward my goal or causing a delay?
Back in my course creation story, all of the tasks I was pulled toward working on were pieces of my larger goal: a successfully created course. Even though I was moving from one part to another, everything that I was working on was still moving me forward. This was a creative diversion.
If you find yourself switching to a task that is either unrelated to or stops progress towards your goal, it’s a distraction. Answering an email because your inbox pinged or checking to see what’s happening in your Facebook group is probably not helping you finish your tasks and complete your projects.
2. Is this a time asset or deficit?
In my blog post, “What is Your Time Worth?”, I cover the idea of time assets and deficits. Here’s a quick summary. A time asset is a task that requires a time investment now, but it will save you time in the future. One example of a time asset would be setting up an automation in your business. Right now, you have to invest the time to set the conditions, think through the process, create any content that’s included, and understand what your customers’/clients’ engagement and responses will look like. But, once that is all in place, it runs all on it’s own. You invest very little time in the future.
A time deficit is just the opposite. It eats your time now without giving you a return on investment later. A time deficit could be organizing your email folders, scrolling through social media, or texting a friend.
There are also times that a time asset can turn into a deficit. Maybe you’ve been staring at a blank screen for 30 minutes waiting for the right words to come so you can write that email to your list. It’s okay to let it go for now and come back to it when you find that inspiration. Maybe a networking group or book club isn’t serving you anymore. If it’s taking your time without a return on investment, it may be time to let it go.
So, when you’re faced with distraction vs. diversion, think about whether this thing will save you time in the future. If it’s not going to help you out going forward, it’s probably simply a distraction.
3. Am I procrastinating?
As people, we are naturally hardwired to do what is easiest and most enjoyable. When what’s in front of us is not particularly easy or enjoyable, distraction and procrastination tend to creep in.
Here are three ways to combat procrastination:
Find the fear. Are you afraid that it won’t be good enough? That you won’t be accepted? That it will be too hard for you to do? If you can identify why you feel fear, you can find ways of moving past it.
Connect it to something bigger than you. If this is a task that needs to be done and needs to be done by you, think of how you can make it about more than just you. Who will benefit by you completing this task? What impact will you have on others? The world?
Don’t forget the reward. How can you make this task more enjoyable? Can you reward yourself for completing the task?
For more on combating procrastination, check out Procrastination: Why We Do It & What To Do About It.
If you feel that the thing you’ve decided to do instead is a way to procrastinate, then it’s simply a distraction. Stop mopping the floors. Stop watching TicToc videos. Get to the heart of what’s going on so that you can complete the task and meet the goal.
