Don't Get Distracted.

I had an epiphany last weekend after I ran ten miles outside without my headphones and music. The run only happened after I threw a mini tantrum over the fact that it was "impossible" for me to run that long and far without music! The thought on only focusing on running was terrible, but I'm getting down to the wire on half marathon training and really needed to get a run in.

Off I went & who knew, I had my fastest and most enjoyable ten miler ever. No distractions, less of a sense of time, and much more of a sense of bliss and escape. I was able to take in things around me, which in D.C. is very cool. I was also able to get lost in my own thoughts, which is usually a pretty daring adventure. It might have been the endorphins from running but all of my thoughts were positive, reflective and motivating. There is something to just being 100% in yourself and in the moment, and I found what it was on that run.

I was really surprised by this, and it got me thinking that maybe we don't need as many distractions as we think, and that we might just be better off without them.

This week had the potential to make me really lose it, in more ways than one.  My family put down our family cat, Oliver and I could not hold it together, all day. Work has been a BIT stressful/busy but this is to be expected when working in politics a week before mid-terms. It's fine, I'm stress eating trail mix like a champ. I'm also moving this weekend, which turns me into a basket case and kind of a b*tch even when nothing else is going on. In 2 weeks I need to run 13.1 miles & reach my fundraising goal for WUFPAC and in 1 week I need to be the belle of the ball at the Marine Corps Ball. I'm not complaining about any of this, it's all actually awesome stuff. Just a lot, in a small period of time and gives you perspective of why my head is spinning really fast.

To keep my head on my shoulders in order to avoid having no choice but to resort to a sexy headless horseman's halloween costume, I gave this whole "no distractions" thing a shot. Heres a few things that worked and made my week better:

• I have forever been a fall asleep with the TV on kind of gal. My brain has hard time shutting down and shutting up when its time to sleep so I try to numb it with mindless shows, specifically BRAVO. (No shame.) I left the TV off and my brain and body followed suit for a killer nights sleep.
• Set the tone of your day, before the day sets it for you. Coming off a great nights sleep I did a 6am long run, no headphones. My brain wasn't awake until about mile 7 and it wasn't as "blissful" as the outdoor run but it was ten miles at 6am on a treadmill at my goal pace. WIN. 
• One thing at a time. This was tough and I actively had to stop my brain from thinking of my full to-do list vs. focusing in on a task and getting it done before moving on to the next. Doing so made me way more productive, and thank god.
• Give yourself a minute. I took breaks and when I did, I didn't think of what I was taking a break from. I applied this to work, working out and packing. There comes a point where it actually is productive to disengage from a big project, even when you're on a roll.

Overall, I focused more on being present in what I was doing. Even little things like not answering a text or an email as soon as I received it made me feel more in control and able to be in the moment. Cutting the distractions has made me embrace tasks and experiences more this week.

There are so many different tweaks that we can make to shift the tone of our lives, and I'm glad I discovered this one.

Happy Friday & Happy Halloween! I hope no one is actually going as a sexy headless horseman...Here is a photo of my gals & I last year, can you guess our costumes?