We could save an enormous amount of time if we figured out how to remain focused on our goals. Even for #motivated people, it is difficult to keep going day after day without getting sidetracked. #seneca came up with a powerful formula for avoiding distractions. In #history , many people have put it into practice successfully. Some of them had learned it by reading Seneca's works, and others had arrived at the same conclusion by themselves. In his 54th and 77th Letters to Lucilius, Seneca condensed his #wisdom about how to avoid distractions. I can sum up his formula in a few words: Thinking of death is the best way to get focused in life. By "thinking of death," Seneca meant "becoming conscious of our limited lifespan." He didn't mean that we should obsess about death and become paranoiac about health risks, potential accidents, and life after death. Stoicism regards death as part of the normal life cycle, not as a tragedy. Seneca encourages readers to accept that, one day, they will cease to exist. The philosophically minded will strive to use their lifetime in the best possible manner, but there is no reason to agonise about #death itself. Seneca argues against the complaint that life is too short. He believes that human life possesses the right length. If we use our days in an effective manner, we can achieve fulfilment; but if we waste them, it won't make any difference whether we live one year longer or not. For Seneca, only unwise people fear death. Philosophically minded individuals are one hundred per cent focused on making the best of today. They want to make sure that, when their moment arrives, they can accept it calmly. In his 54th and 77th Letters to Lucilius, Seneca advises us to make death our friend by cultivating #virtue each day and doing what needs to be done. Let's learn to regard death as something that is neither good nor bad. It is just a fact of life that needs to be accepted. By adopting this mentality, we will not have to #worry about distractions. By focusing on living philosophically and in the present, we will not waste time and energy on lamentations, worry and #anxiety. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/senecas-formula-for-avoiding-distractions/