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He’s Making A List… A Great Way to Overcome Distraction

He’s Making A List… A Great Way to Overcome Distraction

Last updated on: October 29, 2026 at 9:39 am by David Weiss

He’s Making A List… A Great Way to Overcome Distraction 2026-10-29T09:39:03-04:00 David Weiss

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Cartoon Image of the author making a list generated by Google Gemini

I’ve been having a problem. It’s a problem with distraction, and if you’ve been following this column for a while, you know this is not a new struggle. I’m still productive and I get work done, but there are times where I realize I could do a lot better, get more rest and generally do better work if I dealt with this problem.

Here’s What Happens

I start off with good intentions, but in any form of creative work, there will come times when the creativity wanes a bit. You start to run out of ideas, you, literally or metaphorically, paint yourself into a corner, or hit some sort of creative block. What do you do when that happens? Well, I do a lot of my work on my laptop, and it is a fantastic tool, but it has a problem. It doubles as a distraction device. My work also includes quite bit of personal interaction, which often requires a phone, which also doubles as a distraction device. Sometimes it will be something as innocent as needing to look something up, but before long something catches my eye and I end up doom scrolling. It drives me crazy.

Wasted Time

According to a UC Irvine study it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back on task when a distraction occurs. Now honestly, I don’t know how they arrived at that number, but based on my own experience, it feels right, and you probably agree. Otherwise, you probably wouldn’t be reading (and maybe being distracted) by this article. I can’t speak for you, but I don’t feel like I have time to waste.

Begin the Day

One of the problems, at least for me, is how I begin the day. Most mornings I am awakened by the dulcet tones of the alarm on my cell phone. That’s the first problem. I just began the day with a distraction device in my hand. Of course I want to see what happened over the night and before long I’m scrolling reels and wasting some of the most creative time of the day. Because of this, one of the first things I am going to do is switch back to an alarm clock. But what do I do the rest of the day?

A Low-Tech Approach

Yes, I know there are a ton of productivity apps out there, but most of them run off of distraction devices. I needed something a little different. I decided to try making a list and while I confess, it’s on my laptop, I leave it on the screen at night so it’s the first thing I see every morning. If it being on the laptop becomes an issue. I will print it out. I started by putting down all the things I need to get done in day. The list is generated in order of priority, and I check them off as I finish them. You might think I sound like Captain Obvious here, but stick with me.

The List Itself

I decided to start the list on Monday because Monday is probably my most creative day of the week. It’s the day I write my message for the week, create the presentation materials, mailers and more. I put everything I can think of on the list from the most important to the most mundane. The list was generated on Sunday evening. In this way, it was ready to go first thing in the morning. If I am going along during the day and remember something else I need to do, I add it to the list, and when it gets finished, I check it off.

What the List Accomplishes

The most obvious thing the list accomplishes is, it keeps things from slipping through the tracks. My favorite part of the list though is how it helps with distraction. When I hit creative wall, distraction knocks at the door, but guess what? The list is right there, showing me the other things I need to do. Often there is something on that list that will allow me to take a mental break while I’m blocked. Conversely there may be something that will take my creativity in a different direction. In both of these cases, distraction becomes diversion. I may not finish the project at hand quite as quickly, but I am still accomplishing something. All of the sudden that 23 minutes and 15 seconds is used for something constructive.

Checking It Off

My original intent for this list, which by the way is a simple Pages document, was to delete items until the list was empty. I decided against this for a very simple reason. Seeing the items checked off gives sense of satisfaction. It allows me to see all of the things I accomplished, and gives me a feel for all the work I did. When I do something that wasn’t on the list, I add it to the list and check it off when it’s done. Yes, I know that sounds silly, but it helps me keep track of what I am able to accomplish in a day. The extra added benefit is, some of my weekly tasks are repeated, so I can just copy and paste some of Monday’s list into next week.

At the End of the Day

My last job for the day is to write as much as I can of tomorrow’s list. I start off by moving anything I didn’t get to during my day, and then add as much as I can think of to it. I don’t have to worry about putting too much into the day, because other than the projects with hard deadlines, there’s always tomorrow. The object of this game is to spend less time being distracted and more time putting good work into the world.

The Benefits

If you’re still with me, thank you. I know some of this is really obvious. But even as I say that, I have to ask myself follow up question. If it’s so obvious, why wasn’t I doing it? I’m in creative profession with a flexible schedule. I love my work but I work a lot. It’s easy to prioritize the stuff I enjoy while putting off the things I don’t. This simple practice helps me to stay on task. The list reminds me I need to do the things I’d like to put off. It also helps me to have less, “Oh shoot” moments, as I either remember or get reminded of things I forgot. The list helps me to make my deadlines and set manageable goals.

And One More Thing

In the midst of the first week of doing this practice, we had a family emergency, and I got called away in the middle of my day. As I stepped back into my work, I knew right where I was, and I could pick up right where I left off. I had a clear view of what needed to be done and catching up was much easier as a result. Again I know this is an easy, obvious idea, but I also know a lot of us creatives fly by the seat of our pants, and this has made my life a lot easier. When I follow it, I’m a lot less distracted and I get more done.

The Great Equalizer

After all, time is the great equalizer. The richest person and the poorest both have the 24 hour day in common. Time is precious and none of us can afford to waste it in doom scrolling on our distraction devices. Ephesians 5:15-16 reminds us, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” How we use our time matters, so it’s best to have a plan. So make a list. It’s easy, and it works.

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