Deflect Distractions: Purpose Living is a Full Contact Sport

It takes practice to deflect distractions because they are coming at you from all directions, at all times, and in more ways than you can begin to imagine.

Do you ever sit down to work, blink twice, and suddenly it’s two hours later and you have NO idea what happened?

Distractions are sneaky little squirrel ninjas.

And if we aren’t careful, they can steal focus, energy, and, before we know it, purpose. We are left standing in the room, wondering why we walked in here.

The Distraction Spiral

The distractions came at me fast and hard—
like mayflies on the lake in the summer.

(If you don’t know mayflies, trust me, you don’t want to.)

One second of looking away,
And suddenly—

I’m off target.
I’m off track.
And I’m definitely off my rocker (at least a little, if you ask my husband).

Because deflecting distractions is hard work—
For the mind
For the body
For the heart
And probably most of all, for the spirit

It’s only made worse because they aren’t all bad.

Distractions aren’t always wrong or even all wrong. Some can actually be flipped into opportunities—if we learn how to handle them. But they ALL start in the same place of determination – they pull our focus away from purpose.

And when our purpose fades into the background, distractions win.

You were designed for MORE than chasing squirrels. You were created on purpose and for a purpose and your time is NOW! And you have to stay focused on purpose to get there.

But the distractions are trying to convince you otherwise.

#QuoteoftheDay

How to Deflect Distractions & Stay Focused on Purpose

If you’ve ever looked up and realized an entire day (or week) vanished, then you KNOW—
Distractions don’t just slow us down. They STEAL our purpose.

But we don’t have to let them lead the parade. We don’t even have to join the parade. We don’t even have to WATCH the parade.

Swat the Little Distractions

Some distractions are tiny and sneaky—but they add up FAST.

Ever checked one notification and ended up scrolling for 30 minutes?
Ever looked up after binge-watching “just one episode” (which somehow turned into three or three seasons)?
Ever said, “Let me check my email real quick,” and suddenly you’re drowning in replies?

It’s death by a thousand tiny distractions.

Want to swat your distractions? Start with ONE Thing – Write down one priority and don’t touch anything else until it’s DONE.

GETTING REAL: I’ve wasted too many hours chasing social media debates that did nothing but stress me out. Now, if I see something that tempts me to chase that squirrel, I refresh my feed instead. Nine times out of ten, the post disappears—and so does the temptation.

Every time you swat down a distraction, you claim that time (that would have gone to the distraction) to invest in your unique design.

Capture the Big Distractions

Some distractions aren’t small at all.
They’re big, bold, and intrusive.

Your small kids need something that has to be addressed.
A last-minute “emergency” pops up.
A friend calls, upset, and suddenly, there goes your afternoon.

These distractions can’t always be ignored, but they CAN be managed.

How do you capture those big distractions?

Ask: “Is this mine to handle?” If not, delegate or decline.
Create “Office Hours” – Let others know when you’re available—and when you’re NOT.
Prepare a pivot – Some days will go off the rails, but if you have a backup plan, you won’t be completely lost.

GETTING REAL: When my father-in-law had a health scare, I dropped everything to stay at the hospital with him. I couldn’t ignore that distraction. But I COULD adapt. I packed my to-go office and kept working in the hospital waiting room.

Big distractions will happen—but let them happen to steal your purpose.

Know, so you know. Know how those distractions happen and how they try to happen right through the middle of your purpose.

Keep a Record of Distractions

If you don’t track your time, distractions will subtract it.

Have you ever looked back on your day and thought,
“Where did the time go? What did I even DO today?”

Been there – made a t-shirt. That may have been where the time went.

I started tracking my distractions to I could make the most of the 24 hours I get each day.

Pssst – we ALL get the same 24 hours.

How do you use time to tame distractions?

Time Audit – Keep track of what pulls your attention away.
Spot the Patterns – Recognize which distractions hit you over and over.
Set Boundaries Accordingly – Once you know what’s draining your time, you can STOP it.

GETTING REAL: I noticed my biggest distraction was overcommitting.
I’d say yes to way too many things and then wonder why I was exhausted.

Tracking distractions helped me see where I was losing time—
And that helped me say NO to what didn’t fit my purpose.

Set a Timer for Distractions

Some distractions can’t be avoided, but the amount of time you give them CAN be limited.

Ever checked social media “for five minutes” and resurfaced an hour later?

Why set a timer? Because timing distractions, we keep them wrangled in.

Use a 10–15 Minute Timer – Handle the distraction and then MOVE ON.
Use a Stopwatch – Track how much time distractions actually steal from you.
Schedule Time for “Distraction Breaks” – Allow yourself set times for social media, emails, or TV—so they don’t take over your entire day.

GETTING REAL:

I have three digital timers on my desk.
One for focused work (25 min).
One for quick distractions (10 min).
One for breaks (5 min) – and I try to use these to move it move it!

It keeps me in control of my time, aware of the distractions, and blocking the ability of giving either of those control of me.

Keep Your Purpose Front & Center

At the end of the day, the best way to fight distractions is to know your WHY.

When your WHY is bigger than the distractions,
They lose their power over you.

What keeps purpose bigger than distractions?

Write Down Your Purpose Statement – Keep it visible.
Align Your To-Do List with Your Mission – Every morning, ask, “Is this moving me closer to my purpose?”
Say NO to What Doesn’t Fit – If it doesn’t align with your calling, it’s a distraction.

GETTING REAL: My husband loves to say, “We should…”
I used to jump at every idea—until I realized,
Most of the time, “we should” actually meant “you should.”

Now, I ask, “Is this MY purpose?” before saying yes.
And let me tell you—that little question changes EVERYTHING.

If it’s not aligned with your design, then just say NO or let it go!

Your Focus Determines Your Future

Distractions are everywhere—but we don’t have to let them win.

✅ Swat the little ones.
✅ Capture the big ones.
✅ Keep track of where your time is going.
✅ Time distractions so they don’t derail you.
✅ Keep your purpose bigger than your problems.

Because YOU were created for purpose. And purpose requires focus.

What’s the biggest distraction pulling your focus right now?
Drop a comment—I’d love to hear!

👇 Need a boost of encouragement to help deflect distractions?
Jump into the Hope and Courage Reset – my gift to you!

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