Most stalled days aren’t about willpower—they’re about constant context-switching. In this episode, Marissa Hyatt and Joel Miller break down the science of interruptions, how internal distractions amplify them, and practical ways to protect your best hours. Expect notification triage, deep-work tactics, and a saner way to take breaks that actually refuel you.
Key Takeaways
- Name the Real Culprit. It’s not laziness—it’s interruptions. Expect hits that derail you every 3–11 minutes, costing 20–30 minutes to fully refocus. How will you plan accordingly?
- The Difference Matters. Interruptions are external; distractions are internal. You can’t stop every ping, but you can stop taking the bait.
- Cut Notifications Ruthlessly. Turn off non-essential alerts across phone and laptop. Use Focus/Do Not Disturb so only true emergencies break through.
- Signal Deep Work Windows. Tell people when you’re dark and when you’re back: set Slack/Teams status (e.g., “Deep Work — back at 1:00 pm”) and stick to it.
- Remove Temptation. Delete or block high-hook apps/sites during work blocks (tools like Freedom help). Make distraction harder than staying on task.
- Sprint, Then Breathe. Work in focused sprints and replace “digital smoke breaks” with 3–5 minutes outside to reset your brain without derailing momentum.
- Protect Uphill Work. Tackle your Big 3 (creative/strategic) when you’re freshest; save downhill tasks like email/Slack for lower-energy windows.
Watch on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/TIPbksG9_wI
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound
