Summer is quite nearly upon us, and I’m looking forward to a two-month adventure with my family back in the USA. As you’d expect, there’s so much to do in preparation!

My problem, however, is that I’ve been incredibly distracted by side projects over the past two weeks—fun projects that have no bearing on my ministry here in Asia or on my summer plans back home. Three big ones:

• Cataloging and researching the ancient Chinese shipwreck pottery I’ve been finding on the beach.
  
• Researching and mixing spices for teas and other concoctions that can lead to a healthier life.
  
• Boosting traffic on my book review blog by getting more active on social media.

History, health, writing—none of these projects are wrong, of course, yet they’re yanking time away from my Bible study, outreach, and preparations for summer. At the end of each day lately, when reviewing how I’d spent my time, I feel more guilty about what I didn’t accomplish than joyful about what I did.

Something needs to change.

A Universal Struggle

You might be in the same boat—bored with the drudgery of your day-to-day and drawn to the excitement of distraction. Your own distractions might not be nerdy research like mine, but they have the same effect: they keep us from living a full life.

What Exactly Is a “Full Life?”

A full life isn’t just about being busy. It’s not cramming your schedule or scratching every creative itch.

A full life means having a daily sense of completeness and purpose—knowing that you’ve stewarded your time well, been intentional about your activities, and done all things to the glory of God (1Cor 10:31).

My problem is that “full” has slowly morphed into “fragmented.” My natural curiosity draws me to research and exploration. For whatever reason, I’m always seeking an outlet for the ideas that pop into my head. So if my brain or my hands are ever still, I feel off and unfulfilled. But filling my days with things that don’t ultimately matter leaves me fragmented.

Time for a Defrag

Back in the day, when computers were simpler, there was a function called “System Defrag,” where scattered bits of data were consolidated so the system could run faster and more smoothly. I used to love watching the process as fragmented data got rounded up and lined back into neat columns.

I’ve long since called my journaling “Defrag Time,” because it’s the same sort of process—just for my brain and my soul. So many bits of data stream through my mind all day, it can be overwhelming. Taking a moment to gather those thoughts in a journal and pray for wisdom—well, it’s just a refreshing break.

In my most recent Defrag Time, I came up with some ideas to help make my days more fulfilling and less fragmented. I write them here in 2nd person, because I hope they can help you too.

1. Realign Your Heart

Make it a habit first thing in the morning to sit quietly with a Bible, read a short pre-selected passage, and dedicate your day to the Lord. Don’t even touch your phone until you’ve taken a few minutes to do this. Personally, I think 10 minutes with my Bible in the bathroom is enough.

Then, choose one character trait to focus on strengthening that day. Start your day with “to-bes” rather than “to-dos.”

2. Readjust Your Schedule

Instead of a never-ending to-do list, organize your week with themes and blocks. I started this in January, and for several months, it worked phenomenally. My themes look like this:

• Money Monday — Catch up on receipts and reports
• Teaching Tuesday — Deep-dive into lessons and sermons
• Worldwide Wednesday — Focus on missions research and writing
• Thoughtful Thursday — Write my essays, stories, and articles
• Photo Friday — Get into the lighter tasks like editing nature photos or hobby research

Daily blocks like this also help me stay focused:

• Morning Mail (emails, communications): 1 hour
• Morning Marks (homeschool grading): 45 minutes
• Morning Meditation (devotions, journal, and prayer): 45 minutes

3. Reward Your Accomplishments

You’re going to get distracted, but true discipline needs balance, and it actually can be fun. Allow time for side projects, but only after you’ve handled the essentials.

If you finish your work early, reward yourself with a hike, a creative break, or a fun read. But if you failed to finish the work and know you could have, don’t convince yourself you’ve earned the reward anyway. That’ll become a slippery slope.

It may sound childish, but hey—we act like children sometimes and might need to treat ourselves as such to break some bad habits.

4. Retain Your Rituals

This one’s especially important with my travels ahead. I know my schedule is about to go wild, so I need an anchor—one small habit that doesn’t change no matter what city I’m in or how chaotic the day becomes.

For me, that’s going to be the morning bathroom time. No phone in bed. No messages. Just 5–10 minutes with a Bible passage, a simple prayer over the day, and a focused character trait. It’s short, and it’ll keep me grounded, even when everything else goes wild.

Conclusion

Distractions aren’t always sinful, but if they keep us from our responsibilities, they’ll become so. We can’t live a full life with fragmented brains and souls. So take some time today to defrag, reboot, and start again—with God once more the first focus your day.

©2025 E.T.