I’m writing this in a Brisbane library, surrounded by first-world chaos. My son, beautifully positioned somewhere on the autism spectrum, doesn’t understand why libraries require quiet. He’s laughing uncontrollably at memories I can’t access, drawing stares from strangers who don’t understand his joy. My phone won’t connect to the WiFi, so I’ve spent eight minutes troubleshooting. I’ve checked social media, email, bank accounts—anything but writing.

Yet here I am, turning distraction into documentation, making chaos work for my purpose.

This is the reality of modern focus: we’re surrounded by interruptions, notifications, and obligations that pull us away from what matters. The question isn’t how to eliminate all distractions—that’s impossible. The question is how to work effectively despite them.

The Distraction Edit is crucial: identify your biggest time-thieves and systematically remove them. Delete games, turn off WiFi, enable flight mode, close doors—whatever creates space for focus.

But sometimes, like now, you work with the chaos rather than against it. You acknowledge the interruptions, document them if necessary, and keep pushing forward anyway.

Perfect conditions are a luxury most of us can’t afford. Parents, entrepreneurs, and anyone juggling multiple responsibilities must learn to create amidst the storm. Trust me, I know this first-hand. What I have learnt over time is intentionality to be present with the task, and even more so, with the person or people in front of me.

The goal isn’t silence—it’s intentionality. Focus isn’t about perfect environments; it’s about purposeful attention despite imperfect circumstances.