Changing your distraction

The first and last thing you look at is likely your smartphone. Your glowy little defender against boredom. What would happen if you gave its morning/evening bedside pedestal to a paper notebook?

Let’s break down what you likely use it for in these times (categorized):

1. Checking if someone messaged you. ‘Distraction’.
2. Checking if there’s a critical issue at work to resolve. ‘Fake-work‘ – are you going to do anything about the issue, or will you just mark it as ‘unread’ and worry about it until later?
3. Reading website things._ ‘Distraction’_ or ‘Fake-work’ – are you doing actual research? You’re doing it from the bed, right now?
4. Writing notes. ‘Good.’ But isn’t paper better for this?
5. Reviewing old thoughts. ‘Good.’ But isn’t paper better for this?
6. Prioritizing. ‘Good’, unless you’re cracking open Project Managment apps, in which case it’s ‘Fake-work’ – see item #2.
7. Journaling. ‘Good’; writing worry-busters and organizing thought. But isn’t paper better for this?

If this list sounds familiar, consider swapping your phone for a paper notebook in the mornings/evenings for five days, and see what effects it has.