My Top 5 Distractions - And How I Deal With Them

Working at home is great, I have all the comforts I need. Coffee, snacks, and my surroundings reflect who I am. However, working at home isn’t without distractions, and being at home distractions are harder to deal with than you might think. Today I’m sharing my top 5 distractions, and how I deal with them, so that while you’re working at home, you may deal with your distractions similarly.

My Top 5 Distractions

1. Games 

Console games, video games. I live in a house of gamers, so it makes sense that I became a gamer myself. In the past I’ve played Xbox games and about a year ago I purchased a Switch Lite to try The Legend Of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I spent hours playing through the Zelda game and had a blast, and since then I’ve played other games too. More recently, I started playing Fortnite. Yep, the game all the kids are playing! I really enjoy it and will continue doing.

So having my Switch Lite sitting downstairs (ready to be picked up at any moment) is quite a distraction from my writing. I could wander downstairs and grab the Switch and spend hours playing games - but I don’t.

How I deal with this distraction

Gaming time. I allow myself an hour of gaming at the end of every day. I work during the day while the Hubby works at home in the lounge, and then after having dinner we play games. As long as I know I will play there’s no reason for me to sneak off and play when I should be writing. It’s a very effective way of beating the distraction.

An addiction to distraction is the end of your creative production.

Robin Sharma

2. Writers Block 

All writers will struggle to find the inspiration to continue writing. They’re distracted by things going on in life, the kids causing havoc, or their head just isn’t in the game. But a writer must write, so I prepare for writer’s block.

How I deal with this distraction

Plan. Whether writing the next chapter or thinking about how a character will get out of a situation, I plan the next things I’ll do. I write what I want to get done the next day, maybe even writing the first few lines, leaving it open for me to continue. When you have something that’s already started it’s easier to continue than staring at a blank screen and wondering where to start. It’s also useful having the right music. When I’m focussing on my writing, I use Apple Music and listen to a focus playlist. If I want theme music I’ll choose my favourite and it’ll keep me focussed on my task. 

3. The Weather 

During the summer it’s so easy to get distracted by the lovely weather. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the scent of someone’s barbecue drifts in the air, and all you want to do is to be outdoors. It’s more difficult to deal with this distraction because the thought ‘but this weather won’t last long’ is always there.

How I deal with this distraction

When the sun is shining first thing in a morning I go for a walk. The Hubby and I have a regular route we walk and it takes an hour and a half so we spend time outside in the sun and wear ourselves out enough that we want to stay inside for a while. Walking in the morning is great because it gets you motivated for the day, you get your daily exercise, and you get to be outdoors when the weather is nice.

If going for a walk doesn’t work, try working outdoors. I’ve had little luck with this option. I’ve found that with the bright sun, sunglasses, and a laptop screen, I’m straining to read my work and the heat bothers me more than it would if I was walking. Shade is good. 

Say ‘no’ to distraction so you can say ‘yes’ to your destiny.

Thema Davis

4. New Ideas 

I am always hit with new ideas, it doesn’t matter what I’m doing, something can just trigger my imagination and a new idea sparks. The problem with new ideas is they’re distracting and make you want to write your new story rather than continuing with your current work-in-progress. It’s the ‘grass is greener’ adage all over again. A fresh idea must be better - right? 

How I deal with this distraction

When inspiration hits I write down the ideas as soon as I can, noting as much detail as possible. Storing the idea for later, being sure to have enough information that writing can start whenever I’m free. The idea will still be there when I’m finished with my work-in-progress. If I always start something new whenever inspiration hits I’d finish nothing.

5. The Fridge 

When there’s a fridge full of chocolate, and cupboards full of snacks, and hunger pangs hit at 11am, it’s difficult to resist the temptation to head downstairs and grab a snack or two. My stomach tells me I’m hungry and I want to eat, but being overweight means I need to try to not snack so much.

How I deal with this distraction

Plenty of drinks. Sometimes the hunger pangs only rear their ugly head because you’re thirsty, when you don’t drink enough your body tries to tell you. I make sure I have plenty to drink, so after my morning coffee I drink a pint glass full of coke, juice, or water. A page in my planner helps me make sure I drink enough too. On warmer days it’s easier because the heat makes me want to drink cold drinks, but during autumn and winter I can ignore the need for a drink until lunch time. I know it’s not good for me, so I’m doing my best to track how much water I’m drinking every day.

The snacks are another matter. When I’ve had enough to drink but my stomach is still rumbling, all I can think about is the cupboard filled with my favourite crisps, or the Boost in the fridge. Unfortunately, this is not a distraction I’ve been able to beat yet. I try to trick myself with healthier snacks like fruit or nuts, but it doesn’t always work and the chocolate calls. It’s a constant battle and I will continue to fight - if you have any tips let me know!

So there you have it, the top 5 distractions that keep me from writing and how I deal with them. It’s a learning process and I’ll get better with practice, but like I said, it’s a constant battle. 

How do you deal with distractions?