How Distraction Stops Us From Living in the Moment
Autism and disability support isn’t just about care, it’s about understanding, empowerment, and real-life strategies that change lives. Drawing from decades of experience as a CEO, author, and parent, I share insights and practical tools that help families, carers, and professionals navigate challenges with confidence.
This title doesn’t need an introductory paragraph. You know exactly what I am talking about. What a lovely thought, but do I do it? No! I hold my hands up and admit that I am a culprit of not living in the moment.
It doesn’t matter what I am doing, I’ve always got something else to do. Whilst I’m on the phone with my mum, dad, or siblings, I’m often checking and responding to messages. Whilst I’m watching TV, I am checking my phone to see what I need to do next.
When I am on my phone, I scroll through different pages and respond to several messages at once. In this process, I ask myself: am I really giving my all to any of these tasks, and, most importantly, am I living in the moment?
The answer is obvious, and I know it. But is knowing the answer enough? Should I not do something to change how I function?
Sadly, we live in a world of scrolling to get a dopamine hit through the best reel or post, which we sadly never find, hence the constant scrolling. It’s an addiction, a dangerous one, and now it has seeped into our everyday lives and into every task.
We keep jumping from task to task, hoping to get the satisfaction of completing it and getting that dopamine hit. But sadly, we aren’t getting that either because we aren’t living in the moment to fulfil those tasks.
There’s one person I know who truly lives in the moment, and that’s the one and only Afiyah. When I watch her play with her oats, she’s truly living in the moment, enjoying throwing the oats into the air, hearing them hit the ground, smiling and giggling when she gets her sensory feedback, and not caring about anything else in the world.
No worry about what’s next, no concern about what she may be missing elsewhere, and just purely enjoying what she has in this moment. This one girl, who cannot speak and can’t meet her basic needs, actually seems to have it all.
She knows how to live in the moment, take everything in, and enjoy what she’s doing “now”. She’s not concerned about who might be messaging her, what’s going on somewhere else, and so on.
I love witnessing this wonder, and yes, it is a wonder, as it’s so rare in this day and age. The lessons I have learned from watching Afiyah and being with her, hand on my heart, I haven’t learned such lessons through anyone else.
So today, I’m telling myself, and you all bear witness, that I shall try my best to stop jumping from task to task, stop constantly looking for the next thing, try to stop scrolling, sigh, and be in the moment and enjoy it the best I can.
Who is willing to join me on this quest? It won’t be easy, but we can certainly try. Find out more about our work at the Autism Foundation C.I.C and how we support and empower the autistic and disabled community, their families, and professionals.
We offer a range of services, and our next workshop is Understanding Autism & Dealing with Behavioural Challenges. To sign up, click here.
Until next time, my beautiful readers, stay safe and blessed!
Read more from Faria Arsh
Faria Arsh, CEO & Founder of Autism Foundation
Faria Arsh is a multi-award-winning CEO, best-selling author, and international speaker. As Founder of The Autism Foundation, she empowers families, carers, and professionals to support autistic and disabled individuals with confidence, compassion, and real results. Her work is shaped by personal experience as the mother of a teenage daughter with severe autism, ADHD, and profound learning difficulties. Recognised internationally, including awards in Dubai, Faria is redefining care, inclusion, and empowerment, creating a world where autistic and disabled individuals are understood, respected, and supported to thrive.
