A Case of Mindless Distraction

Today I had to go downstairs to accomplish something. I started walking and realized I forgot my phone and started heading back to get it. But I stopped and thought, “Why do I need my phone?” This task didn’t require a phone and once I finished it, I would head back upstairs. It would take 5 minutes, maximum. I went downstairs, did the work and was done.

What just happened? Instead of letting me do the work, my subconscious cried out for me to get my phone. In reality, the only effect my phone could have would be to distract me from accomplishing the simple task. The scary thing is, 9 times out of 10 I would have never realized what was happening. Though I realized today how silly this impulse can be, I know it goes unnoticed most of the time.

Where else in life are we being distracted without even realizing?