We’ve seen hilarious videos and stories of the problems smartphone distraction 
can cause—I mean, hilarious for us, rather embarrassing for them. Things like running into (and falling into) a water fountain in the middle of a city, or walking straight into a construction zone, both while staring at the phone screen. How are we so enthralled by our phones? How do we allow them to distract us so much? And what else are we missing out on if we’re missing these blatantly obvious obstacles in front of us?
Why are we so distracted?
Often, when I see these type of things occur, I chuckle to myself a little. But, at the same time, I have to wonder—has anyone else ever seen me do something ridiculous while I was distracted? I try to be mindful of how I use my smartphone, but technology is addicting! In the same way that our bodies become addicted to and crave the sugar and carbs in junk food, our minds crave the satisfaction that our smartphones bring.
But Manoush Zomorodi is trying to help us change that in her new book Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive & Creative Self.
Why should we be bored?
Zomorodi wants to help us learn to be bored again. Why? Because believe it or not, boredom is good for us. When we’re bored, it allows our brains to think, to problem solve, to get creative! Some of the best ideas come when we’re bored. How many of you have experienced a brilliant idea just come to you when you were in the shower? Well, that’s because the shower is one place that we’re not taking out phones; we’re free from distraction—our minds are bored!
In her book, among other things, Zomorodi outlines a 7-day plan to help conquer your smartphone addiction—one easily-doable activity to focus on per day.
The goal is to allow you to reclaim your time and eliminate digital distractions, without eliminating your smartphone.
You can order the book on Amazon, but while you’re waiting for it to arrive, try using this trick to start helping you cut down your mindless smartphone usage.
