Today’s episode is all about how I’m battling distraction.
Links/Resources Mentioned in today’s episode (I’m not getting paid to share any of these things!):
- Michael Hyatt
- Full Focus Planner
- Scott Hahn Gospel of Matthew Commentary, Notes, and Study Questions
- Schultz Photo School
- Consciousness Examen from Fr. Mike Schmitz (my transcript)
My Distraction Battle Plan
- Set Boundaries, Create New Expectations, and Create New Habits
- Phone
- Make it a landline and leave charging in kitchen (even at bedtime)
- No longer returning texts right away
- Set aside time to return texts/make phone calls
- Delete black hole apps (For me, that’s Facebook and Gmail)
- E-mail
- Delete Gmail app on phone
- Check only a few times a day (set aside 10-15 minutes to return correspondence)
- Unsubscribe from extra e-mail to keep inbox unclogged
- Use computer for e-mail and Facebook
- Use old school alarm clock instead of phone for my alarm
- Phone
- “Daily Big 3”
- Stephen Covey urgent vs. important (keeping my vocation stuff–the unurgent but important) at the top of my Daily Big
- Prayer, Marriage, Parenting
- Put traditional to-do list tasks on my other to-do list
What I’d like to hear from you:
- Audiobook recommendations
- Favorite go-to recipes for weeknights
- Spiritual book recommendations
- What are YOUR distractions?
- How do you stop your distractions from taking over?
You can find me on Facebook or e-mail me at podcastATcatherineboucherDOTcom
If you like the show, please subscribe and leave a rating or review wherever you listen! Don’t forget to share what you heard While You Were Folding!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Audiobook – I loved “Present Over Perfect” (on Hoopla) by Shauna Niequist.
Recipe – Not a main dish, but a side dish that is a huge hit at family gatherings: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/23588/corn-casserole-i/
Spiritual Book – I haven’t read it yet, but recently got Matthew Kelly’s “Perfectly Yourself” and am looking forward to reading it.
My distractions – FB. It’s a total time-suck for me and I usually end up feeling very negative about something I saw on there. I just took the app off of my phone today and I feel better already!
Overcoming distractions – To do lists. I love crossing things off and it helps me focus on one thing at a time.
I loved this episode and hearing about the idea of the “Big 3.” I appreciate your honesty and openness in your sharing of thoughts and experiences. I’m so glad you mentioned Covey’s Quadrants (urgent vs. important). I was just thinking of that graphic organizer last week but couldn’t think of the right words to Google it. I enjoyed hearing about your Distraction Battle Plan – great ideas! Can’t wait for next week’s episode!
Lindsay,
This is fantastic! Thank you for doing your “homework” and sharing all of these recommendations with me! 😉 Perfect timing with your audiobook recommendation because I *just* finished my last audiobook and was looking for a new one–even better that it’s free on Hoopla. I’ve enjoyed Matthew Kelly books in the past, but I haven’t read that one. I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks for that corn recipe. Side dishes are my cooking weakness! How are you doing with taking FB off of your phone? I haven’t missed it on mine at all. I didn’t realize how much I was checking my e-mail on my phone. It had become an autopilot habit, and my mind is so much freer without it. Isn’t that Covey Quadrant thing so helpful? That and the “Big 3” are really helping me to keep my days more focused. Hope you’re having success sticking to what’s important in your life! Thanks again for commenting!
All time favorite spiritual book — ‘I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on the Teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux’
Highly recommend it — I revisit it often through out the years and always come away with something new and refreshed. This book has been such a gift to me – hope it can be for you too. I’ll put the link below.
https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/i-believe-in-love
Hi, Kelsey!
You’re my 3rd friend to recommend this book, and I actually just bought a copy to put into a basket for our parish fundraiser. I’ll have to get a copy for myself! My dear friend, Jenny, swears by the book as a game changer for her. St. Thérèse is one of my personal favorites. Would Lent be a good time for it?
What a great episode. It was so comforting to hear that I’m not the only one that doesn’t get super into playing with my kids sometimes. I mean yes, I love board games, but lego battles, not so much. After listening to this episode yesterday I made sure to play with my 5 year old while big brother was at baseball practice with dad. We built a fort and played legos and I know he just loved having my full attention – even if just for 30 minutes. Thanks for reminding me what my true vocation is – my husband and kids – not all the chores around the house 🙂 And I’ve been getting way too distracted lately with FB – I usually give it up for Lent and I’m actually looking forward to that. It is such a time suck.
Hi, Jessica! Thank you for saying that the playing doesn’t come naturally for you, either. It’s a relief to know that I’m not alone in that. I love how you took that pocket of time with your five-year-old to play one-on-one. I know it feels silly sometimes to say that PLAYING can feel like a sacrifice, but it really can be when we’re trying to put our housework or other distractions before the people in front of us. Ah, yes, the eternal battle with FB! Taking it off of my phone and leaving my phone docked continues to be a blessing for me. I hope your break from it this Lent is a blessing! Thanks for listening and for taking the time to comment. Have a blessed start to your Lent!