Have you ever considered whether you are using your time and resources on things that matter most to you? The book Things That Matter by Joshua Becker prompted me to ponder about whether I am utilizing my time and resources efficiently on things that hold significance to me. In preparation for writing Things That Matter, Becker conducted a survey to determine how distractions take over our lives. According to the survey, a staggering 76% of respondents are distracted by less important activities and, as a result, not pursuing what truly matters to them.

While reading Things That Matter, I had an epiphany. Previously, I had considered procrastination to be my biggest hurdle, yet I now understand that it is merely a symptom of the distractions preventing me from achieving my full potential, leaving me feeling dissatisfied and unfulfilled. This book has enlightened me that by conquering these distractions, I can focus on following my bliss, reaching my goals, and living a more purposeful and gratifying life—the things that matter most to me.

According to Becker, various distractions can have a significant impact on our lives, including fear, past mistakes, happiness, money, possessions, applause, leisure, and technology. While each of these distractions has the potential to affect us differently, I find fear, leisure, and technology to be the most prominent distractions in my life.

“Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.”

Rudyard Kipling, novelist and poet

Fear’s Distracting Grip

Fear is holding me back more than my pride would allow me to admit. I find myself struggling with fear of change and failure, which is why I once convinced myself that I couldn’t follow my aspirations of becoming a writer and self-employed. I believed that if I failed, I would no longer have a dream to achieve. This was flawed logic on my part.

Throughout my career, I have worked harder than required to make myself indispensable and hold onto positions that did not align with my passion. Interestingly, losing my job was not my biggest fear. I feared that I would work hard, retire at 65, and be haunted by the regret of not having pursued my dream, knowing that allowing fear to control me was the reason. That is a retirement party where I would not want to be the guest of honour. I am committed to overcoming this fear and not wanting to look back on my life with regret.

I have learned that failure is not something to be feared, but rather an opportunity to reexamine my approach—keeping in mind what I want to accomplish—and try again. Every successful person has experienced failure at some point along their journey to success. They prevailed because they faced impending failure and stayed committed to their goals.

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”

Seth Godin, teacher and author

Lost in Leisure

There are days when I can get a lot done before noon, but on other days, I struggle to get my act together (or get off the couch) to tackle even one thing on my to-do list. If I don’t motivate myself consistently, I could spend too much time being idle and not enough time being productive. While downtime, a lazy Sunday, or taking a vacation is essential to our well-being, making leisure an objective can lead to it becoming more important than our higher priorities and pursuits. As Becker points out in Things That Matter, “Leisure makes a great booster to long-term productivity in our pursuit of meaningful goals. But leisure makes a terrible goal in itself.”

Many of us, myself included, use leisure as a way to escape from unfulfilling and unsatisfactory work. We often count the days until the weekend or our next vacation, and it can be challenging to fully disconnect and recharge when the time arrives. Common phrases like “I hate Mondays,” “Happy Hump Day,” and “TGIF!” are prevalent in email conversations between colleagues, indicating that everyone is “Working for the Weekend,” as the band Loverboy proclaimed in their hit single. The goal of work should never be the reward of relaxation. Rather, relaxation should be a way to recharge and accomplish better work.

I am currently building a fulfilling business and life that does not necessitate a need for a vacation or early retirement. I now use my leisure time to recharge my mind and body so that I can work better and focus on what matters.

“The apps you need to stay focused are no apps.”

Abhijit Naskar, neuroscientist and author

Digital Diversions

How often do you check your phone in a day? The answer might surprise you. While smartphones have undoubtedly made our lives easier with their convenience, they can also be huge distractions. With constant notifications for emails, texts, and social media updates, it can be challenging to remain focused on higher priorities. Sadly, all this time spent on our electronic devices often results in no meaningful accomplishments.

Recently, I’ve noticed a pattern of behaviour within myself: if my phone is out of sight, it is out of mind. If it is within reach, I cannot resist picking it up. It has become a habit, rather than a tool of convenience. Sometimes, I even try to multitask by scrolling on my phone while watching TV, only to miss an important scene and have to rewind.

Rather than completely unplugging from technology, I’m making a conscious effort to create some healthy distance between my electronic devices and myself. I realize that the world will not stop turning if I miss a notification. Another step that I am taking is purging my social media accounts. I began with my Instagram account, where I followed over 400 accounts, and proceeded to unfollow more than 100 public figures and celebrities whose picture-perfect lifestyles serve as nothing more than a source of distraction. The reason why I was so deeply invested in the lives of people I don’t even know in real life is beyond me.

Parting Words

If you feel like distractions are interfering with your highest priorities and you want to reclaim your time and resources to pursue a more meaningful life, a good place to start is reading Things That Matter by Joshua Becker. Here is a short video of what you can expect to gain from reading this book.

If you have an inspirational story about overcoming distractions, please share your story in the comments.