Strategies for becoming less distractible and improving focus | Nir Eyal

Nir Eyal is the author of two best-selling books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. He writes, consults, and teaches at the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. His books have sold over 1 million copies in more than 30 languages; he has taught at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and its Design School; and he has started and sold two startups since 2003. In our conversation, we discuss:
• Strategies for becoming less distractible and improving focus
• The difference between distraction and “traction”• Reactive work vs. reflexive work and why you should book time in your calendar
• The 10-minute rule to overcome internal triggers and stay focused
• The problem with to-do lists, and what to do instead
• The value of creating a timebox schedule that aligns with personal values and priorities
• The use of pacts as a last line of defense against distraction
• How to develop a high-agency mindset
• Advice for leaders on helping employees improve focus in the workplace

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Find the transcript and references at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/st...

Where to find Nir Eyal:
• X:   / nireyal  
• LinkedIn:   / nireyal  
• Website: https://www.nirandfar.com/

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• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com
• X:   / lennysan  
• LinkedIn:   / lennyrachitsky  

In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Nir’s background
(04:20) How to become less distractible
(07:43) Understanding distraction and traction
(12:52) The four steps to becoming indistractable
(13:53) Mastering internal triggers
(18:49) Surfing the urge with a 10-minute timer
(23:20) Making time for traction with a timebox schedule
(25:02) How to turn your values into time
(28:36) Booking deep work time
(29:22) Making pacts to prevent distraction
(31:00) The problem with to-do lists
(34:31) The drawback of deadlines
(36:08) Distraction is an emotion regulation problem
(39:54) Hacking back external triggers
(45:03) Preventing distraction with pacts
(48:18) Specific tools to hold you accountable
(53:42) Managing emotions and discomfort
(56:37) Taking responsibility and being high-agency
(01:00:09) Becoming indistractable at work
(01:05:04) Schedule syncing to align with managers
(01:09:36) We are not as hooked on technology as people think
(01:16:00) Life purpose and personal responsibility
(01:17:38) Lightning round

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