How to eliminate digital distractions to get somewhere with your hobby

Digitally distracted more than you are hobbying? Here's what you can do to reclaim your focus and do more of what you enjoy.

There are many factors that can subtract from getting around to hobbies. One that is most commonly and consistently experienced, though, is digital distractions. We are all well aware of just how addictive technology (specifically, smartphones) can be, whether hours of doom scrolling result from recurring compulsions or platforms that inherently have infinite feedback loops by design. Yet, even with this understanding, very little is done (in most cases) to redirect time in ways that are much more meaningful.

If you want to become more serious about your hobby and live a more vibrant life overall, a logical place to start is to reclaim time that is currently (and overly) misdirected. Here are steps you can take to accomplish just that.

Step 1: Identify the What and Why

Before you start cutting distractions, I think there is importance in assessing what your largest sources of digital distractions are and why you have attachments to them. Sources of distractions, for instance, may include social media, streaming platforms, browsing the internet, and/or downloadable games. Examples of attachment reasons may include curiosity, boredom, inspiration, envy, and/or escapism. Or, maybe there is no “why” at all and the time directed toward digital distractions seems quite robotic and detached.

Take some time to think through these two questions, perhaps writing your thoughts down to process this information with more depth and clarity (highly recommended). The intent here is to understand the root causes so you can confront the issues head on whilst working on your hobby. If curiosity takes you down every digital rabbit hole for hours on end, for example, redirecting that curiosity into a hobby results in channeling time into your own project instead. Same goes for boredom and envy; you are essentially solving a deeper problem and achieving a worthwhile outcome all in one.

Why this matters, on a larger level, is that you’re more likely to cut back on digital distractions and sustain this approach if you understand the underlying behaviors behind this digital distractedness and take active measures to correct it. Take the time to determine the “what” and “why.”

Step 2: Determine the Extent of Distraction Cutting

Once you have a clear idea on which digital distractions are consuming excess time and why they are, you can then consider how you will approach digital distraction cutting for the sake of your hobby. Here are a few methods with varying degrees of detachment.

Tier 1: Silencing Notifications and Clutter

This approach involves putting your phone on do not disturb mode so notification sounds are not audible when you’re working on your hobby. To mitigate as many distractions as possible, recommended action also includes deleting apps not in use, minimizing which notifications display on your lock and home screen, and consistently keeping your phone in the other room when you’ve set focused time aside.

Tier 2: Time Limitation

A secondary approach you can take involves limiting how much time you are able to spend on certain apps per day. You can go about this a few different ways (depending on how aggressive you want to be about this). This includes setting an alarm that notifies you to close the app, configuring a setting with a third-party app that locks you out of the app after a certain amount of time has elapsed with the ability to edit the setting, or configuring that same app lock without the ability to edit that setting until X amount of time has passed (meaning, if you don’t want yourself to be able to access X app beyond your allocated allowance for a week, month, or year).

Tier 3: Full Logout and App Deletion

Want to detach from particular digital distractions altogether? A more nuclear option is to logout, delete the app, temporarily deactivate your account, and/or delete your account. Any and all of these approaches can help with cutting back on digital distractions, but you may find the approach you take is based on personal preferences and the extent of your aptitude for change.

Bonus: Black and White Mode

My favorite approach for decreasing digital distractedness is keeping my phone in black and white mode 100% of the time. Not only is it easier on the eyes, but eliminating the color also makes everything look much less compelling and flashy. That in and of itself keeps me off my phone to focus on my hobbies more. If you haven’t tried this already, it works wonders.

Step 3: Hold Yourself Ruthlessly Accountable!

With measures in place to keep the digital distractions at bay, the final (and ongoing) step is to stick with it. Staying off your phone to work on your hobbies instead takes conviction and discipline. It is much easier to succumb to digital distractions when every app is optimized to seize your attention. However, it is much more fulfilling to redirect that same time into a project that brings genuine enjoyment and a sense of mental engagement.

Remain mindful of your “whys” and actively choose to redirect time into your hobby anyways. Rebel against the digital distractions draining your time and hold yourself ruthlessly accountable. Your hobby will figuratively thank you.

From Distractions to Deliberation

Elimitating distractions to make actual progress with your hobby involves intention and resilience. You may still find yourself getting distracted more than you’d like, but acknowledge the progress you make along the way and continue to be persistent. Your resolve and motivation will strengthen as you consistently allocate focused time for your hobby. And, soon enough, you just may realize that you are in the flow of it and that it simply feels great to be hobbying… without anything else to go check.

Happy hobbying!