I can’t believe Christmas is just two days away – well, Christmas Eve is tomorrow. I have been sort of a Grinch at home this year – no decorations until last Sunday but I did get some shopping done. Yes, I squirreled but what else is new, right?
Last Sunday at church, the first hymn was “Hark the Harold Angels Sing”. I know it is “herald” but my grandfather always said it was his song and yes, his name was Harold. I knew then, it was going to be a service I needed to pay attention to. As we moved through the holiday songs, I found my thoughts drifting to the things I wanted to get done, the people I was missing (Belinda not being home for Christmas) and then BAM! The sermon was on “managing distractions”. I knew this was just for me.
The brain fog from MS causes me to get distracted easily, memory is short or sometimes nonexistent and sometimes I find it hard to concentrate. But the reality is, even without MS, many of us have difficulty managing distractions. Think about how you or your kids do/did their homework. Do they need the music or TV on leaving you wondering how they can possibly concentrate? Or do they need silence? These days, I need silence. I get easily distracted but there was a time when I could have the TV on or music and actually remember what I was supposed to be doing. Do deadlines cause you to focus more? Is one of your tag lines, I work better under pressure?
#1 Identify Inevitable Distractions
Distractions are going to happen – they always do. So why not expect them – if they come, you are ready but if they don’t you are ahead of the game. I can remember when I was a work at home mom, distractions happened and I was never really ready for them. The TV was too loud or a million questions came just as I was working on a grant. Then there was the “I’m hungry” cry. Yes, I miss those days but the distractions are different now. I start a project or work in the office and thoughts of 10 other things which need to be done in the house enters my head. Before long, I have squirreled into the “this will only take a minute” project being completed distracted from the work I was doing. I’m sure I am not alone especially during this busy holiday season.
#2 Learn to Discern the Main Thing
SMACK! Distractions sometimes pull us away from our main focus – family! We get bogged down in worrying about having lots of time with family while we miss out on enjoying the quality time we do have with them. What is your main focus this holiday? Is it buying the perfect gifts, planning the perfect meal or enjoying the moments with family and friends? I always “talk” about family being the most important thing to me – tops on my list. Yet, I find there are times when I place other non-important things before spending time with them. My focus turns to working in the office to make money to pay bills or being busy in my business (notice I didn’t say working my business). Yup, I am one of those struggling recovering workaholics….
We have identifying the distractions, so how do you manage them, right? You got this, it isn’t as difficult as it may seem if you are intentional about it…
#1 Clear the Clutter
No, I don’t mean the clutter in the house! I mean the clutter in our heads. Maybe you need to write a list or delegate chores or maybe decide not to do certain things at all – however you do it, JUST DO IT! Prune your schedule. Control spending. Weed out the things which aren’t the main thing. I am working on calendar blocking AGAIN so I block out time needed to work versus time I will spend with family.
#2 Don’t Let Distractions Distract You
We know distractions will happen BUT don’t let them distract you from your MAIN THING! If the most important thing for you this holiday season is family – spend time with them, enjoy them. STOP watching the clock. STOP worrying about if the house is clean enough or whether there is enough food or how you look. Enjoy the moments….
The main thing is to make the Main thing the Main thing
This Christmas is different for our family – Belinda in North Carolina, missing my Dad, hubby working so others can spend time with their little ones has left me trying to figure out how to embrace the change so I can focus on my main thing – FAMILY! Grateful to have dinner on Christmas Eve with my step-mom and half sister then spend Christmas Day with my mom and step dad as well as my hubby.
What is distracting you this holiday season from enjoying your “main thing”? When the holidays are over, will you have wonderful memories of the moments shared even with the distractions or will you regret being too busy to have enjoyed your “main thing”?
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 