It’s so easy to get distracted. Our phones ping, emails flood our inboxes, Social Media tempts us – there are endless things vying for our attention these days. While distractions may seem harmless, they can actually take us off course from our bigger goals and purpose if we aren’t mindful.

According to author and speaker Simon Sinek, avoiding distractions is key to Staying Focused on what truly matters. In our distracted, fast-paced world, it takes conscious effort to stay on track. Sinek uses a navigation analogy to illustrate this point. Imagine planning a long voyage – you plot the course for your destination. But along the way, you encounter distractions – sights and sounds that pull you slightly off course. Each distraction only diverts you a little bit. But over time, those small diversions accumulate and you wind up completely off track.

The same thing happens in life when we let ourselves get distracted by a constant bombardment of notifications, apps, social media and other digital stimuli. We lose sight of the bigger vision and direction for our lives. Before we know it, we’re far from where we intended to be.

How can we avoid distractions? Sinek offers several tips:

• Turn off notifications. Mute or turn off non-essential pings and alerts on your devices to reduce interruptions.
• Designate specific times for checking emails, social media and news. Don’t keep them open all day.
• When working on a project, silence your phone and close distracting apps and tabs.
• Prioritize meaningful relationships and activities over mindless digital engagement.
• Ask yourself periodically “Is what I’m doing right now taking me towards my goals?” Check your alignment.

It takes vigilance to stay on course in a sea of distractions. But avoiding diversions ultimately allows us to live and lead more purposefully. As Sinek says, “The vision is what matters. The vision is what everyone has in common.” Keep your eyes on the horizon.