Become Indistractable

Become Indistractable

You’ve got a big project, you're determined not to get distracted..but first, let's check if you have any emails, oh and it won't hurt to check off this easy task before starting...

How many of your days go like this?

Nir Eyal, the author of “Indistractable”, explains that these work-related distractions are often the most dangerous. They make you feel productive, but they're still distracting you!

Eyal argues that becoming “indistractable” is the skill of the century, as every area of your life depends on your ability to sustain your attention.

To learn this skill, we first need to understand what distraction is and what causes it.

What is distraction?

Many people think the opposite of distraction is focus – it’s not. The opposite of distraction is traction.

Traction is any action that pulls you towards what you said you’re going to do. Activities that are aligned with your values and help you be the person you want to be.

Distraction is any action that pulls you away from doing what you said you’re going to do.

What causes distraction?

Triggers. There are two types:

1. External - the pings and dings you're used to
2. Internal - what's going on inside our head. It's these triggers that are the true beginning of most distractions.

Whether it’s too much news, food, or booze, distractions are our way to escape the uncomfortable emotional states we haven’t learned to deal with yet.

So now that you know what’s behind distractions, let’s hear 3 strategies from Eyal on how to become “indistractable”!

🧠 1. Master your internal triggers

When something distracts you from what you said you’d do, notice it, jot it down, and write down how you feel.

By doing this, you’ll become more aware of what's triggering you. Awareness is a big step to mastering them. If you know that you’re scrolling Instagram because you’re lonely, make time for chatting with your friends.

That leads us to the next tip.

📅 2. Make time for traction

Eyal says, “Every action can be traction or distraction. It’s only a distraction if you’re doing it on somebody else’s schedule instead of yours.”

To counteract this, put everything in your calendar: • Responding to emails • Playing a video game • Spending time on Twitter

The more detailed you are, the more in control you are of your actions and aware of distractions.

⛏️ 3. Hack back the external triggers

When something external distracts you, jot it down: • Checking a slack message • Scrolling social media

There’s nothing wrong with these things. But if they're not what you said you’d do, they're a distraction.

When you’re working on an important task, refer back to your common triggers and hack them back: • Close your apps and turn off notifications • Put on noise-canceling headphones and focus music

Train your new superpower

By mastering your actions and getting traction, you’ll not only become a better leader - you'll also control your attention and lead a better life!

Now...what uncomfortable emotion is stopping you from what you said you were going to do?