Is there any way to ease this problem?

**mimihigurashi** · 09-29-2014 03:40 PM

I've been having this problem for many months, ever since I started trying to be mindful throughout the day. Every time I start working on my computer (which is several hours daily, which is a problem), I completely forget to remain mindful. In the rare event that I do remember, I'll be mindful for a few moments then quickly get distracted by my work, because I need to focus on it. Being mindful at the same time seems ridiculously difficult, almost impossible, like trying to look up and down at the same time, my brain's being pulled from two opposite directions, and it can only stay on one side at a time. Has anyone else had this problem and is there any way to ease it? I doubt there's a solution.. unless you're super advanced at mindfulness

**Sageous** · 09-29-2014 04:40 PM

^^ I think this problem would be unavoidable by pretty much anyone, as computers, and our activities on them, simply absorb too much of our focus to maintain any real sense of mindfulness. TV does the same thing, BTW.

I've found two things to at least temper this. One thing to do is take regular breaks, if possible. Schedule five minutes every half-hour or hour to turn away from the computer, maybe take a walk, and reset your self a bit. I also have a small picture (a venn diagram of the lucid dreaming fundamentals that Mzzkc once sent me) that reminds me to be mindful parked right next to my screen; if a picture is impossible, just an object or even swatch of color that reminds you of mindfulness nearby could work just as well.

So yes, though the problem itself may be difficult or impossible to solve, there may be ways to work around it.

**mimihigurashi** · 09-29-2014 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Sageous

^^ I think this problem would be unavoidable by pretty much anyone, as computers, and our activities on them, simply absorb too much of our focus to maintain any real sense of mindfulness. TV does the same thing, BTW.

I've found two things to at least temper this. One thing to do is take regular breaks, if possible. Schedule five minutes every half-hour or hour to turn away from the computer, maybe take a walk, and reset your self a bit. I also have a small picture (a venn diagram of the lucid dreaming fundamentals that Mzzkc once sent me) that reminds me to be mindful parked right next to my screen; if a picture is impossible, just an object or even swatch of color that reminds you of mindfulness nearby could work just as well.

So yes, though the problem itself may be difficult or impossible to solve, there may be ways to work around it.

Oh, the picture thing is a great idea! I'm gonna try that, to shove it real close to my screen, preferably stuck to it on the side like a post-it note, thanks. I thought of the break thing before, but I don't really see the point in taking a break once every 30 minutes if I'm gonna be mindful for a few minutes then forget about it for another 30, so that sucks, but yeah there are ways to help it.

**Sageous** · 09-29-2014 05:04 PM

Five minutes of mindfulness an hour is not great, but it is better than zero minutes of mindfulness in an hour.

**NowAwake** · 09-29-2014 06:02 PM

just keep visiting dream views after every hour or so or you can setup multiple alarms with hour intervals in mobile, then resolve that every time the alarm rings you'll do a reality check.

**Wolfdog** · 09-29-2014 06:28 PM

Why not remain mindful exclusively about your work in the computer? You can direct your focus of observation initially to your work, even remain mindful about your absorption and focus with what you're doing. Remain aware of the fact that you're working in the computer, remain aware of being focused in your work. If you get distracted, then observe that distraction and be mindful about it. As this is something you devote a lot of time to, choosing your work as your initial target for mindfulness may bring progress to you.