In this season of life, I’m juggling so many roles and responsibilities that I sometimes feel like a pinball, bouncing from one thing to the next. Between launching a podcast, managing our growing businesses, working on my website, preparing my course, attending to my family, and church obligations, it’s a lot. Add in the desire to keep a tidy home, cook healthy meals, and stay active, and it becomes a real challenge to stay focused on what truly matters.

And yet, my top priority is to spend quality time with God. I desire to sit in His presence, journal about what He’s showing me, and just be still with Him. I’ve learned that when I give Jesus the first and best part of my day, I’m grounded, centered, and at peace. But when my to-do list starts screaming at me, I’m often tempted to rush through or even skip that time with the Lord.

If you’re anything like me, you may also struggle with fighting distractions. Let me share four steps I’ve found helpful in staying focused on what matters most, especially when life feels like it’s pulling you in all directions.

1. Identify Your Distractions

The first step to overcoming distractions is recognizing them. What are the things that constantly pull you away from your time with God or your key priorities? It might be the lure of social media, the endless task list, or even good things like family obligations or work. In themselves, these may not be bad, but if they consistently draw you away from time with Jesus or steal your peace, they’ve become distractions.

Take some time to reflect on your days. Where do you find yourself most scattered? When do you feel your focus slipping? Be specific as you identify these distractions so you can intentionally address them.

2. Discern: Attack or Opportunity?

Not every distraction is the same. Some are spiritual attacks, designed to pull you away from God’s purpose for your life. The enemy would love nothing more than for you to be busy, overwhelmed, and distracted, because a distracted Christian is less effective for the Kingdom.

But not every distraction is an attack. Sometimes, they are opportunities to exercise self-control and refocus. In these moments, ask yourself: Is this truly urgent, or can it wait? Is this task a priority, or am I avoiding something deeper? Sometimes distractions can be disguised as necessary, but really, they are moments where God is calling you to rest in Him and trust His timing.

When we exercise self-control over our thoughts and actions, we gain spiritual strength. Not everything that demands your attention is worthy of your immediate response.

3. Write Out Your Priorities

This has been a game-changer for me. When I write down what my true priorities are—time with God, my family, my health, and key work projects—it becomes easier to focus. Our minds are powerful, but they need structure. When you have a written list of what is most important, you’re less likely to get pulled in a thousand directions by lesser things.

Writing out your priorities also gives you clarity when those distractions arise. It allows you to ask, Does this align with what I’ve determined is important right now?

Remember, Jesus told Martha, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is necessary” (Luke 10:41-42). What is the one thing God is calling you to focus on today?

4. Schedule Your Priorities (and Your Distractions)

Once you know what your priorities are, it’s time to make them a reality. If spending time with God is a priority, block that time off first thing in your day. If being there for your family is essential, plan it into your week. When we schedule what matters most, we’re less likely to allow distractions to creep in and steal that time.

But here’s a twist—also schedule time for distractions. You know unexpected things will pop up; they always do. Plan for it. Maybe it’s a 30-minute block in the afternoon to handle whatever comes up or an hour to catch up on emails. When you plan for distractions, you have the freedom to focus on your priorities during the rest of your day without guilt or anxiety.

Finding Rest in Jesus

I’ve noticed that when I surrender my to-do list to God—when I lay down my assumptions about what has to get done and choose to prioritize Him first—I feel peace. On those days, I’m reminded that God is in control, and He is faithful. But when I let distractions speak louder than my call to rest in Him, I feel restless, hurried, and unfocused.

Jesus invites us to come to Him when we are weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28). He doesn’t call us to run ourselves ragged trying to keep up with all of life’s demands. Instead, He calls us to rest in Him, to trust that He will provide all we need, and to follow His lead.

So why do we let distractions speak so loudly? I think it’s because we often assume that we are the ones in control, that everything will fall apart if we don’t handle it immediately. But the truth is, God’s got us. When we rest in Him, we can trust that He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

Today, let’s be intentional about laying our distractions at His feet. Let’s choose to trust that His way is better, His timing is perfect, and His presence is the most important thing we can seek.

Practical Application: 4 Steps for Overcoming Distractions

  1. Identify distractions – What is pulling you away from time with God and your priorities?
  2. Discern if it’s an attack or an opportunity – Is this a moment to exercise self-control and refocus?
  3. Write out your priorities – What is most important right now? Align your tasks with your God-given purpose.
  4. Schedule your priorities (and time for distractions) – Block time for what matters most, and plan for the unexpected without guilt.

When we learn to fight distractions with focus, surrender, and trust, we can give Jesus the first and best part of our hearts, and that’s where true peace is found. Let’s make that choice today.

Are you struggling with distractions? Do you feel like your life has ramped up to an unmanageable level and that you are bouncing from urgent task to urgent task with no control? Do you feel like you have trouble keeping your thoughts on one task at a time or that your concentration ability has really diminished over the years? If any of that describes you, let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear what you are struggling with. Perhaps I will create a short video and post it on my website to coach you through your challenge. That way many will benefit from your coaching session!