So Many Distractions!

I wake up in the morning and check my phone for the time. I switch on the internet, and my phone starts beeping to the notifications of Whatsapp, Gmail, and other apps. I glance through my Whatsapp messages to see if there's anything important. I then check my inbox and impulsively delete the emails from the 'Promotions' tab. Well, that is a small part of it. Then, there's Instagram, the 'Search' tab that opens up random posts of total strangers - as decided by some weird algorithm. I haven't mentioned the Ecom apps that also reside on my phone. Coming out of the virtual world, I hear a rooster crowing loudly in the neighborhood. There's the sound of the mixer grinder coming from an apartment nearby. The list of sounds goes on.

Why am I writing about all this? Well, it's because we live in an age of distractions. Yes! Our world is filled with distractions - not just our virtual world, but our real world as well. Our attention is constantly moving from one thing to another. We give a few minutes or maybe even seconds to each thing. There's so much going on! It is overwhelming. Everyone, irrespective of age group, is affected by distractions. 

Photo by __ drz __ on Unsplash

I don't know what will work for everyone, but below are some points. I hope someone finds them helpful. 

Acknowledge that there are distractions. 

Most of us don't even know we are distracted. We are on auto-pilot. We live a life based on society's terms and move through each day. 

Note down your biggest distractions. 

Distractions could be social media apps, online shopping apps, music, television, virtual games, etc. They could be something from the non-virtual world - your neighbors' loud voices, vehicle sounds, crows, social functions, etc. 

Now the best part - finding solutions. 

With the virtual apps - you could switch off the notifications. I did this with apps like food delivery, shopping, and even Gmail. I check my email a few times a day, but that's it - no notifications. You could uninstall certain apps - that aren't adding quality to your life. These steps made a huge difference in my life. 

Alone time. 

We all need those moments with ourselves - to reflect, to tune in, and to just be. This is what brings us back to us. I really think it is best to do this without our phone, or with the phone on silent mode. We can use this time to journal, think, and let go of the outside world. 

Letting go of FOMO. 

Back in the past, people just lived their lives without watching the highlights of others' lives. In today's world, we see perfect pictures of the best moments of other people's lives. We see their accomplishments - their relationships, marriages, homes, career updates, travel highlights, etc. Most of us silently compare ourselves to these projected lives of others. I know it's hard, but we really need to remind ourselves that life is not a competition. There is no reward for who traveled the most, made love the most or got married the earliest. It all happens according to universal timing. If you find it difficult to let go of FOMO, take a social media break, or plan the amount of time you spend there. Also, take time to write a gratitude list of the nice things in your own life. 

We're all trying to create the best life, with the knowledge we have. Every time we falter and fall into the trap of distractions, we need to free ourselves using ways that work best for us. 

Friends Who Come Back

Some days ago, I got back in touch with a friend with whom I lost contact years ago. Meeting my friend after so many years (more than a decade actually) felt amazing. It brought many emotions and feelings and was a mix of joy, surprise, nostalgia, and a lot of other things. While I was still wondering how the years had passed so quickly (it all feels like yesterday) and how we had gotten busy with our lives, meeting each other made us realize that nothing much had changed. 

We say that social media sites and technology help us stay connected all the time with family and friends, but I also feel that there is something extra special about actually talking to someone over the phone, sending them a handmade present, or meeting them in person. Technology is but a tool to help make our life easier. It cannot replace the beauty of true connection. Our ancestors knew the importance of actually meeting up with their family and friends and thus they were much more connected. 

Seeing pictures and status updates of people online cannot replace the feeling you get when you actually talk to them. It is much more personal and helps build the quality of the friendship. 

Over the years, I made many friends. Some of them have stayed, and some went out of touch over time. The ones that really matter to me are the ones who make the effort to keep in touch, not just on social media but in real life. They are the ones who accept me with all my flaws and life experiences. I accept them the way they are too. 

In life, we will meet many people. If you feel that you want to keep a friendship growing, then make the effort to meet them in person or take the time to call them. Wish them on their birthday, ask them how they are doing. These old-school and simple things will always mean more than a social media update. 

While we see everyone staring into their phones and looking at the updates of their friends, colleagues, and relatives, all this has just left us deeply disconnected from each other. These things don't really help us improve our relationships in any way. They are just an illusion that makes us feel we are in touch with everyone. It is best to live a simple and private life and share what matters to those who matter. It is beautiful to see how old friends come back to our life and while everything seems to have changed, it all still feels the same. It feels like home :)