Dis-traction

Why is it that when we sit down to focus on an assignment or project, we are so easily drawn away by something else? Common references might be ‘going down a rabbit hole’ or ‘getting sucked into’ something else.  Sometimes I will even purposely attempt to remove distractions and things that might get in my way (things I allow by the way, let’s be honest), but that cleared space will quickly become filled with a new distraction. The distraction easily holds my rapt attention.

I don’t get it.

If I study the word distraction at appearance, it’s dis (anti) traction (forward motion or pulling towards something, like a car or pair of shoes that gets good traction). Distraction is something that actively acts against my progress. That makes sense. But I want to know more.

Naturally I turn to the Oxford English Dictionary.

I am fascinated to find so many contexts for the word distraction. Etymologically speaking, it is a noun of action. Love it. The ‘dis’ part is to “pull asunder”. The ‘traction’ part is the power, the moving. Both actions.

This is exactly it.

Something IS in fact pulling apart my focus and forward momentum. One use from the 17th century that is now obsolete (and I wish it wasn't because it seems so relevant) is “dispersion or scattering”. Our focus can feel very scattered and dispersed in a million directions.

Another great use that is also obsolete according to OED is “violent stretching or extension”. This seems very accurate when we are stressed, have too much to do and something distracts us. We get upset about it. We have lost our traction - like backsliding. This describes a lot of my day when I really want to stay focused but there are unwanted distractions. I get behind.

By far my favorite obsolete use (and arguably how we can feel when life gets away from us and we are behind) is “approaching to temporary madness; mental derangement; craziness; madness; insanity.”

But there is one final use that I will mention that I find much more kind, and that is using distraction as “the drawing away (of the mind or thoughts) from one point or course to another;  diversion of the mind or attention; less commonly = diversion, relaxation”. Emphasis, my own.

Diversion, relaxation.

This is it. This is where we need to go because this is much more helpful. Sometimes the mind needs to relax with a diversion. From what? I don’t know, that’s up to you. But the mind needs to be honored just as much as the body when it comes to relaxation. There are times when I can’t, simply can’t, turn away from a project and it just flows. Other times, I’m blocked, and I can’t face it. There’s nothing wrong with that. The brain can fatigue just as the body can. I believe the violent stretching to the point of madness can, for me, come if I ignore my mind and force myself to focus on something that is not flowing. That’s definitely when I feel scattered, just as much as when I am in the flow and distractions draw me away.

It’s unhealthy, just as it is for the body that doesn’t rest.

What’s the answer? Discernment and balance. Know when your brain needs a break. If you find yourself daydreaming, chances are, your mind needs a rest.

Personally, I try and allow my mind ‘free time’ to wander. Why force focus? There are all kinds of benefits from daydreaming. Google it, then go allow yourself to become diverted through a distraction. ‘Losing’ your traction can help you find something else like less stress and anxiety, more creativity, a refreshed mind, a break from rigorous focus (rigor: harsh inflexibility/Oxford), to name a few.

Diversions can be medicine (Oxford, 17th c.). But that is another rabbit hole to fall into another day.

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