We all know that TV is bad for us. We watch too much of it, we eat in front of it, it turns us into couch potatoes binging our favorite TV shows and bags of potato chips. It’s nice to blame the TV. Its convenience and ubiquitous nature makes it the perfect candidate to be blamed for any number of woes in our lives and the world at large. The reality is a TV screen is just a TV screen and without arms and legs it has no power to stop us from doing anything we want. I know that we could make the argument that the content (both entertainment and advertising content) is designed to keep us on the couch and watching but again without those arms and legs there is not much it can physically do to stop us from changing the channel or turning it off. TV’s or other screens are not going anywhere so we need to stop thinking of them as scapegoats and make them work for us in reclaiming our health. There are many things and activities in our life that create distractions and provide cues to behaviors we may not even be aware of (anymore). Most of the time we think of them as bad distractions, and there are plenty of those, but distractions can be used to our benefit as well.
Managing distractions is all about knowing what they are and how they impact our lives so that we can use them to our advantage. We can use distractions to do two things, get through something we might not otherwise want to do, or keep us from doing something. The first is all about adding a distraction to motivate us to do something (playing music to make cleaning less of a chore), and the second is about changing our response to a distraction (knitting while watching TV to keep our hands busy and away from snacks).
Music, podcast or audiobook on your phone all provide distraction during a walk, and can turn a “chore” into something you look forward to instead of dread and allow you to move more. The right choice can speed your pace and help you go further than you ever thought possible, check one for helpful distractions. You can catch up on your favorite shows while riding a stationary bike or elliptical (the show provides a convenient timer and a distraction to keep you from noticing your legs getting tired). Walking, running or riding with friends is my favorite distraction, you get to catch up and enjoy their company while getting your heart going, another check in the positive column. Let’s be honest, all these activities can be done while sitting on the couch so it still takes effort on our part but if you struggle to get moving and are behind on your favorite shows make a pact to catch up while riding that bike.
Catching up on our favorite shows or books while moving often holds an added bonus, if we are moving while watching we are likely not eating while watching bringing us to second way distractions can be put to use. Our lives are cluttered with distractions and cues that take us down paths we would rather avoid, often times without being aware of them. We snack on sleeves of cookies while binge watching shows or snack on chips every time we pass the kitchen without really paying attention or tasting them. There are plenty of cues and distractions at home but with so much time spent elsewhere it might be worth thinking about our cars and work places as well. We all know we have to concentrate on driving but how many of us also eat and drink in the car. We don’t pay much attention to the $6 fancy coffee we drink as we sit thru traffic, in fact we hardly taste it at all or the muffin that went with it. We finish our breakfast on the run and arrive at work hungry, forgetting about the 800 calories we ate and drank, and looking for a snack. Work provides similar opportunities for hidden calories to sneak in and sabotage our healthy living efforts. Coffees drank thru meetings, snacks consumed as you work at your desk, all add up without adding up to enjoyment (odds are you are not really tasting them at all). So if you are already distracted, go with it, switch your coffee for water (drinking water provides a similar distraction and you are not really tasting the drink anyway, being in the car or a meeting), get rid of the desk snacks and skip the bakery muffin (you can stock up on apples for snacks, if you need them, they provide that satisfying crunch and can perk you up better than coffee). While you are at it give a stand up desk or balance ball chair a shot (if possible or practical at your work place), they will improve your posture, balance and “health quotient” and the work will distract you from the change. These ideas provide just a small sample of the hidden opportunities for healthier living in the many parts of our lives, I am sure you can find many more.
In the end, distractions are all around us, there is no point in denying that. Despite that they cannot be blamed for all our woes and struggles, they are simply there and unlikely to disappear. We can control how we deal with them and then use them to our advantage. It all starts with awareness of our surroundings, our activities and how we respond to them. Take the time to be aware of the distractions around you then make the time to use them to your advantage.
If you have questions or want to know more about creating your own personal wellness plan feel free to contact me. I also encourage you to check out the Programs page for the latest in online and local in-person offerings (CT, MA)