The Opposite of Distraction is Traction.

A distraction is something we do that moves us away from what we really want. Traction is an action that moves us towards what we really want.

Any action can be either a distraction or traction depending on what you intend to do with your time.

The Difference Between Traction and Distraction is Forethought.

When I ask clients to show me their calendar so I can see what they intend to do, instead of a timeboxed calendar reflecting their values and priorities, they often show me schedules full of white space. They don’t keep a detailed calendar and, as a result, get thrown off track by the whims of family members, colleagues, and friends.

If you find yourself doing what you planned, that’s traction. Anything else is a distraction.

You can’t call something a distraction unless you know what it is distracting you from.

If you don’t schedule your day, you can’t possibly know the difference between what you intended to do and what was a distraction.