After years of struggling to NOT read while having my meals - why would I need distraction while eating something nice? - I turned my chair the other way round.
Now I look out of the window. Problem solved.
Isn't looking out of the window a distraction? Or sharing a meal with others and chatting? They're all distractions - but not serious ones.
I think that there are levels of distraction. Watching tv seems worst, then reading, then chatting, then staring out of a not too exciting window. So at least I've moved up a level ....
There is always distraction, but it depends how hard it grips you. The telly, to my mind, has a vice-like grip. When you read, you can still easily look up from the page, every so often. Relaxed chatting has its own benefits. However, windows - or an aquarium, say - are ideal.
What are you distracting yourself from?
Good question. Life? The present?
Boring food?
Drinking liquids is time-consuming when you need to get a new high score on Color Swith!
Good question. Life? The present?
Surely it's good to be in the present moment though... so your attention is placed on your food and not the distractions.
Surely it's good to be in the present moment though... so your attention is placed on your food and not the distractions.
But the conversation, the book or the view of the garden are all in the present moment, too.
But the conversation, the book or the view of the garden are all in the present moment, too.
Not when the needs of the moment is to eat the food that is in front of you. The other things are distracting from that need.
Of course, that's not to say that there may not be a need to read something, or pay attention to what's out of the window, but if those needs arise, then full attention should be given to them in the moment, if that is more appropriate than the need to eat.
It is a great pleasure to eat while reading / watching the garden / talking with friends. Particularly the last. I will continue to give my full attention to those activities that give me pleasure.
Where did the idea that we should only do one thing at a time arise?
No necessarily doing one thing at a time... but putting our attention on the 'working surface', which means that when we are doing one thing we give it our attention rather than daydreaming or being distracted by other things. This is part of, what Ekhart Tolle would call, living in the "Now", or being present. When we are not being present, tasks take longer to do, and mistakes are easily made.
No necessarily doing one thing at a time... but putting our attention on the 'working surface', which means that when we are doing one thing we give it our attention rather than daydreaming or being distracted by other things. This is part of, what Ekhart Tolle would call, living in the "Now", or being present. When we are not being present, tasks take longer to do, and mistakes are easily made.
I agree - but I'm still present (i.e. doing what I set out to do, not 'distracted') if I do any of these other things while eating. There's an entire range of Chinese music written to drink tea to, and small figurines to contemplate while drinking tea.
Which is why I asked Anne Mary what was in the present that she was escaping from. Get that sorted, make your present good (if possible) and there's no need for distraction. You just focus on and enjoy whatever you are aiming to do - eating and whatever else.
What are you distracting yourself from?
I know I ought to be in the present! And the food is definitely not boring, even if it happens to be a less succesful meal. I love eating, even. But I find it hard to just sit there chewing. I'm inclined to chew less well, too, and to eat too fast. If it's a soft-boiled egg or something more complicated, I'm fine.
And looking out the window - some restful plant movement, the odd bird - may be better for my eyes than a static room.
But in general I find it hard to be in the present. I am impatient, always thinking of the future - rather than the past.
Thinking of the future can be useful or not - are you just worrying or are you making plans? Is the past pleasant memories or is it regrets?
And if you are impatient (I assume here that you are an optimist? The view that the future is a better place? Otherwise, why be impatient for it?) what is so wrong with the present that you want to move out of it?
Not worrying, just planning: both small, practical things and how to improve myself! That's me: always trying to improve. With advanced age the improvement has to be for the mind more than the body, though the body gets plenty of attention as well. Looking out of the window, instead of at the paper: I consider that an improvement. Maybe in ten years time I don't have to look out of the window anymore!
Supposing I'm still here.