Noise hits us from every direction daily.  The noise I am referring to is all the different distractions that pull us away from what we intend to do.  Staying on track and reaching your final destination without being temporarily derailed is something to rejoice about. 

Noise might be from our electronics, co-workers, boss, children, spouse, friends, social media, and so much more!  If not careful I can get off track walking from one room of my home to another.  I make a conscious effort to stay on track through prayer.  I ask God to help me filter through the noise and make good use of my time. 

I have blocks of time when my phone is not with me because it is a distraction.  When working, I don’t answer my personal messages.  If there is a reason to look at my phone, I do.  My phone does not manage me, I manage my phone.  I have worked where I am on call 24/7, but I still manage my phone.  The phone did not control me. 

Those close to me know that most Sundays I leave my phone on the counter and enjoy my family.  As I pass by the counter, I see if anything is urgent.  Rarely is there a message that needs my attention immediately. 

Filtering the noise in the office is equally as critical.  Knowing when to engage in all the office noise and when to disengage is vital.  For me, taking a few minutes in the morning with each department was crucial.  I found that a simple “good morning” was enough to tell me who was on track for the day and who needed a few more minutes of my time.  I found being engaged with employees increased productivity and job satisfaction. 

Filtering out the noise is very critical with workplace chatter.  Figuring out the right amount of communication for the workplace culture is imperative.  Rarely is it necessary to spend more than a minute or two with each department. 

Filtering noise with family and friends is also very tricky.  There is so much going on and we all are pulled in many directions with only 24 hours in a day.  When my children seek my attention, I focus on them filtering out all other distractions.  I enjoy spending time with my family, therefore I build my week around our family time.  It takes effort to filter out the distractions to keep that time for us.  There are times when we compromise, but that is a decision we make.  We don’t allow activities and “noise” to take away our time together, but we are flexible regarding opportunities or special moments.

Social media is a distraction that has many of us questioning how we spend our time.  The level of noise on the various sites makes it challenging to focus.  I remind myself daily to quickly and efficiently connect with my friends and family and exit the site.  I have found concentrating on one social media and doing so for a short amount of time several times a day is the best use of my time and helps me channel the noise. 

As I go through my day, I can feel when the noise is getting loud and productivity lowers.  I work hard at channeling that noise and redirecting my attention to the task at hand.  I ask God to help me focus on the priority and pray that I am able to channel the noise. 

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