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kingroboto

overcoming my addiction to 'distractions'

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when I do work I have this need to constantly have something playing in the background as white noise. It comes from this need to get the most out of every minute of the day and in my head just sitting there doing work is considered wasting of time when I could be playing a youtube video to learn about various 'things' that don't really matter to my life or just simply to be entertained to make the time working more 'fun'. Since I started my mindfulness work I've recognized that all of this distraction is put there because I want to drown out my own thoughts which are at their most critical when I'm doing my work and running into challenges. I recognized that by distracting myself I'm merely putting 50% of effort into what I'm doing and receiving only 50% of what's playing in the background. It doesn't add more to my day's experience by doing more multitasking. 

Yet despite all the logical reasons why I should stop distracting myself I still do this dance every day of searching for things to watch or things to distract myself with and spend probably hours accumulated each day just sitting there cycling through the same youtube and netflix videos, the same radio and podcast channels, the same music, looking for stimulation to make my sitting down to work time 'worthwhile' like a drug addicted monkey . I have had periods when I shut off all distractions and be 100% concentrated on what I'm doing but then the thoughts and the anxiety creeps in and I have to break from the state. I've been pretty successful at quitting many unhealthy habits in my life but this one is more difficult for me that quitting pornography. Any advice would be appreciated

Edited by kingroboto

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Maybe just maybe when you close off all the distractions and focus doing only one thing maybe this thing that you are doing is a distraction too ?

What helps me to break out of all the distractions is to go look a master doing hes work. If you do not know anyone particular then go take walk in town, i am sure you can find someone or some place. It automatically washes off all the bullshit and distractions that you had before. You gotta be able to step out of it. And older skillful people are perfect for that. Well you can try do it by yourself, but it takes way too much time - almost impossible.

But please, do not go creep anyone, be nice :) 

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