It can seem like our lives are filled with busyness, noise, distractions, and often meaningless activities.
What if we could filter out all that noise, and focus on the meaningful?
What if we could find stillness instead of constant distraction?
This post originally appeared onZen Habits.
I believe that most of us have that power.
Lets talk about ways to filter out the noise, then how to find stillness and meaning.
Even take a little time to make a list, whenever you find distraction or busyness.
You might have other sources: Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, news, cable TV.
That its important enough to miss out on some things in those noisy channels.
Then we can take action:
Turn off notifications as much as possible.
Including the unread messages count by each app on your phone.
Decide to check on some things (like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) just once a day.
Others you might check twice a day, or three times if needed (like email or Slack).
But set a limit.
And from Twitter or any other app where youre following people or blogs/websites.
Leave only a handful that give you meaning.
Tell people that you are only checking your messages once a day, to set expectations.
Dont use an autoresponder I find those annoying.
Instead, just send a message to the people who matter most, and ask that they be understanding.
Set a time each day when you watch TV or movies (if at all).
Set a time of day when you read news or blogs (if at all).
If you take these actions, youll filter out most of the noise.
Time for quiet, stillness, focus and meaning.
Figuring out whats meaningful.
Learning to stop and stay still.
I think those are wonderful problems to be faced with.
Most people never even consider them.
Find gratitude that you’re free to work on this at all.
Take some time to notice your constant need for busyness or distraction.
Now see if you might let go of those patterns.
Catch yourself, and instead opt for stillness and quiet.
make a run at just sit there and notice your surroundings.
Soak it all in.
Meditate on your breath.
Reflect on your day.
Ask yourself what youre grateful for right now.
Start building new patterns of stillness.
For example, try morning meditation on your breath, even if just for a few minutes every day.
Try going for a morning or evening walk, without your phone.
Try turning the phone and computer off and just journal.
Start finding activities that are more meaningful to you.
This doesnt have to be done in one dayyou can slowly experiment to figure out whats meaningful to you.
You might decide to start a business or charity that changes the world.
You might start to learn something thats meaningful, or teach others.
Find ways to help others and make the world a better place.
When you notice yourself running to busyness and distraction, pause.
Turn instead towards stillness and your meaningful activities.
Build a life around stillness and meaning, and notice the difference it makes in you.
Its about clearing the clutter so we can focus on whats important, create something amazing, find happiness.
My name is Leo Babauta.
Image byAndy Orinvia Flickr.
