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@MarielB22 more from that month

Distractions Lead to Inactions It sure is easy to become distracted, isn't it? Most of us have routines we stick to which have become our daily habits. Some of us have no schedule at all but rather go with the flow of each day. Whatever type of schedule we follow, there are always distractions that set us off on an unexpected tangent. Mornings My mornings are full of things to do: feed the baby, make breakfast, check emails from clients, write on read.cash, get the day's laundry started, feed the cat, clean up the house, and entertain my child (among other things that arise on any given day). But it never fails. I find myself distracted by something or someone daily. Sometimes I am even hesitant to open up my email. This is because a client may have sent me some work overnight that needs my immediate attention. Balancing work, chores and taking care of my young son can be difficult. I'm sure you readers have a similar situation as well whether you have a child or not. But the biggest distraction I have observed is **social media.** Talk about a complete waste of time! Posting a selfie or some drama is not productive. It can lead to big distractions when people leave comments or message us.

I do get on FB to communicate with my parents and siblings since they are far away in Mindanao and I am here in Luzon. It's our only means of staying in touch. Using Messenger or Viber helps keep us in touch, providing they have Internet. But FB Messenger opens up distractions when people see the green dot that signals you are online. This is why I prefer #Viber. Inactions When we become distracted we sometimes want to give up and take a break. We want to run away and hide and forget about everything. That is not a practical solution, however. This is precisely why I get on FB and get off as soon as I can. Even 30 minutes a day wasted is too much for me because it leads to inactions. I could be doing more productive things like reading my Bible, praying or writing or helping my neighbors.

When I recognize I am being distracted, I pause what I am doing and determine what sent me off track, then I eliminate the distraction (if possible). Sometimes we cannot do this, what with dogs barking, traffic backed up beyond belief, and people needlessly shouting. I'm thankful I live on the beach and only have to put up with an occasional dog barking. But for me the important thing to do is manage my time and remain focused on my tasks for the day. I have a general routine I keep in my head, but I also write a to-do list and post it on my laptop. If I do not, I can easily forget because of the daily distractions. **Distractions lead to inactions.** Time management We get 24 hours in a day and 172 hours in a week. How much of that is wasted on sleeping, playing video games and logging in to social media to read the drama and latest gossip? As far as I am concerned, these are all distractions that I do my best to distance myself from.

**Focus is everything**. Without purpose and direction, distractions that lead to inactions take over and rule our lives. They become bad rather than good habits. Prayer The first thing I do when I wake up is pray. I also set my mind on what needs to be accomplished for the day and how I will go about fulfilling all my tasks. One of the better moments of the day comes when my son is down for his nap and I can read and study God's word. Bible reading and study brings about focus in my live and gives me direction. It reminds me that although I am in the world I am not of this world but am a mere alien passing through on my way to glory thanks to the grace of God. Easy tips Getting organized isn't as hard as some might think it is. Here is a sure way to determine what you can eliminate from your life and provide you with more productive time. Simply make a list.

On the left hand side write down everything you normally do each day. Some of these things might include, but are certainly not limited to, work, writing, laundry, appointments, social media, playing video games, sleeping, chatting, cooking, cleaning, and many more things. Once you have completed your list, go back over it and try your honest best to write how much time you spend on each one. **Be honest!** Now that ou have your list and time spent on each item, decide what you can eliminate from your life. Be wise. Either scratch it out or put it on the right side of your list. Can you cut down on your sleep? Diminish your time online? Reschedule tasks? Cook meals in advance? Whatever you decide, take action and make your revised list a priority in your life. **Develop your new habits**. And if and when you become distracted, fall back to your list for a reminder of the things that are a waste of productive time. Heck, post your list on your refrigerator (ref for us Filipinos). It will take a couple of weeks to find a groove that will be comfortable but productive. Try it and see if it does not change your life and make you more productive and better able to handle life's distractions. And don't neglect prayer and bible reading/study to regain and maintain your spiritual focus.

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