You're being tortured by the very devices meant to improve your life. Welcome to the curse of distraction, 21st-century edition.In his 2019 book "Indistractable," Nir Eyal shares a brutally honest account of his own struggles with distraction. Eyal vividly recounts missing a precious interaction with his daughter because he couldn't resist the siren call of his smartphone. We've all lived some version of this, and this sets the stage for Eyal's practical, no-nonsense approach to conquering distraction.Eyal doesn't simply preach...
What is Becoming Indistractable?
In this fast-paced, tech-saturated world, it's easier than ever to get sidetracked. We're constantly bombarded by pings, dings, and rings - external triggers that pull us away from what we really want to accomplish. These external cues hijack our attention and derail us from our intended tasks. And even when there are no obvious distractions in our environment, our own internal cravings and impulses can lead us astray, like the rumble of our stomach urging us to take a snack...
Outsmart Your Inner Distractions
The root of our distraction problem may lie deeper than you think. As Eyal explains, our desire to escape discomfort is often the driving force behind compulsive behaviors - including endlessly scrolling social media. But don't worry, you're not doomed. Eyal draws insights from the work of psychologist Jonathan Bricker, who has helped people overcome serious addictions using a technique called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The key? Learning to observe your urges without judgment, rather than futilely trying to...
Becoming Indistractable Through Time-boxing
Consumed by endless distractions, you feel like your days are slipping away, right? You're not alone. It's just all too easy to neglect traction. But, thankfully, there's a solution to harnessing traction! A well-planned, timeboxed schedule.Now, we know what you're thinking - a schedule sounds restrictive. But think of it this way: without a plan, it's impossible to tell the difference between traction and distraction. Your calendar becomes a blank canvas, ripe for anyone to come along and steal your...
Conquer Work Distractions and Regain Your Productivity
Getting constantly sidetracked at work is it's own hell. Emails eat up half your day, and there are countless other interruptions and distractions that have become the bane of our professional lives. So, how do you reclaim your focus?First, this eye-opening statistic: Did you know that medication errors in hospitals harm a staggering 400,000 Americans every year? That's a troubling reality, but it highlights just how devastating the consequences of distractions can be, especially in high-stakes environments. Thankfully, one nurse,...
Tame Your Tech At Work
Let's start with group chat. While tools like Slack can be useful, they have a nasty habit of turning your workday into an endless, soul-crushing meeting. Imagine strolling into the office, only to be greeted by a nonstop barrage of one-line quips and emojis. Yikes! The solution? Treat group chat like a sauna - linger for a bit, then get out before you start to resemble a shriveled raisin. Also, schedule specific times to catch up on those messages.Next up,...
Powerful Pacts to Stay on Track
With pacts, a little creativity, and a dash of psychological know-how, staying on track has never been easier. First up, effort pacts. These ingenious tools make it harder to give in to distractions. Consider the "kSafe" - a plastic container equipped with a locking timer built into the lid. By placing your tempting treats, like a favorite bag of cookies, inside the kSafe and setting the timer, you physically lock away the snacks until the timer runs out. Of course, you...
Fix Your Workplace Culture
Think your constant email checking is the only problem? Think again. Research shows that workplace distraction runs far deeper than our love affair with technology. When employees at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) were staying glued to their phones at 11 PM, it wasn't because they were addicted to their screens - it was because two partners with clashing work styles were unknowingly creating chaos. One sent midnight emails, the other fired off demands at dawn, and their team was caught...
Overcoming Tech Distractions in Relationships
When psychologists Richard Ryan and Edward Deci discovered that humans need three basic psychological nutrients - autonomy, competence, and relatedness - they probably didn't expect their research to explain why your teenager can't put down their phone. Yet here we are, watching our kids drift into digital worlds while parents frantically wave "no phones at dinner" flags.Kids aren't addicted to screens simply because they're addictive - they're often searching for what they're missing offline. Consider Mayan children who can focus...
Summary
Ready to break free from the distraction circus? Remember, becoming indistractable isn't about perfection – it's about making conscious choices. So go ahead, take back control, and live life on your own terms!
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About the Author
I’m the author of Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. Previously, I taught as a Lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Design School, and I’ve sold two technology companies since 2003.
For most of my career, I’ve worked in the video gaming and advertising industries where I learned and applied (and at times rejected) the techniques used to motivate and manipulate users. I write to help companies create behaviors that benefit their users while educating people on how to build healthful habits in their own lives.
As an active investor, I put my money where my mouth is by backing habit-forming products I believe improve lives. Some of my past investments include Eventbrite (NYSE:EB), Kahoot! (KAHOOT-ME.OL), Anchor.fm (acquired by Spotify), Canva, Refresh.io (acquired by LinkedIn), Product Hunt (acquired by Angelist), Homelight, Marco Polo, Byte Foods, FocusMate, Dynamicare, Wise App, and Sunnyside.
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