Distinguishing Distraction from Diversion

Distraction and diversion are two fundamentally different concepts. Distraction refers to actions that pull us away from our intended tasks, preventing us from living out our values and becoming the person we want to be. In contrast, diversion involves a refocusing of attention and can be healthy in certain situations. For example, research has shown that diverting children's attention with video games before surgery decreases their anxiety levels and reduces the need for anesthesia. Similarly, burn patients who play virtual reality games during wound cleaning experience less pain compared to medication. Understanding the distinction between distraction and diversion allows us to harness the power of diversions in a healthy way while avoiding wasting time on unhealthy distractions.