Distraction

A distraction can be defined as an urge to avoid the present task in order to reduce the effort required. Distracting impulses are also subject to sensitization and habituation. Distractibility is not a permanent trait. Distractibility is a state of training. Some people develop certain habits with less training than others. Learning to feel the urge of the distracting impulse makes habituation easier. Emotions are best processed when felt in the chest. Traction in a task is when your level of engagement for the task matches the effort required. With enough engagement, you attain flow. Distraction occurs when you try to lower the effort the task requires, which produces disengagement. Disengagement from the task, coupled with high effort required, is seen in states of hyperfocus and automation. Feeling an emotion or urge sends a “message received” signal through the same vagus nerve back to your amygdala. The most crucial distinction within types of attention is task attention vs. predictive (or default) attention. Task attention uses your central executive function network. Predictive attention, also called default attention, uses the default mode network. Task attention works in the present moment. Predictive attention concerns the past or future. The main content of predictive attention is unfinished business. Traction comes from these two modes of attention working together. This working together of the two modes of attention produces flow. We have deliberate and automated appraisals. We also have deliberate (task) and automated (predictive) attention.