How to Beat Distraction and Still Enjoy Life (ft. Nir Eyal)

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Oct 9, 2024

Nir Eyal, a behavioral design expert and author of "Indistractable," discusses how to conquer distraction and enhance productivity. He emphasizes that becoming indistractable is a crucial skill in today's world, advocating for a tech-positive approach. Nir delves into the nuanced impact of social media, stressing intention over fear-based narratives. He also shares strategies for effective scheduling and overcoming procrastination, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and thoughtful media engagement for a balanced life.

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INSIGHT

Traction vs. Distraction

Distraction is any action that pulls you away from what you planned.
Traction is any action that pulls you towards your intended goals.

INSIGHT

Internal vs. External Triggers

External triggers (pings, dings) cause only 10% of distractions.
Internal triggers (emotions like boredom) cause 90% of distractions.

ADVICE

Master Internal Triggers

Become aware of your internal triggers, like boredom or anxiety.
Manage these triggers; time management is pain management.

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Why can’t we just do the things we know we should do? It’s a simple question with a very complex answer.

To help us answer it, I sat down with my old friend, Nir Eyal, a behavioral design expert and author of the best-selling book, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life.

I love Nir’s approach because he doesn’t linger on the surface of the problem of distraction by hocking the latest app or hack or fancy new time management method. Instead, he dives right into the thorny emotional realities we all face in trying to lead productive, meaningful lives.

In this episode, we talk about what it means to be “indistractable” and how it’s probably the most important skill of the 21st century. We also get Nir’s take on the role of social media in our lives (his views on this might surprise you). And finally, he answers that timeless question: Why don’t we just do what we know we should do?

Enjoy.

About Nir Eyal

Nir Eyal writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. Nir previously taught as a Lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford.

He is the author of two bestselling books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products, and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. His books have resonated with readers worldwide, selling over 1 million copies in over 30 languages.

Nir’s book, Indistractable: http://geni.us/indistractable

Nir on time boxing: https://www.nirandfar.com/timeboxing/

Nir on values: https://www.nirandfar.com/common-values/

Nir’s free schedule maker: https://www.nirandfar.com/schedule-maker/

More articles by Nir: https://www.nirandfar.com/best-articles/

Follow Nir on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nireyal/

https://www.youtube.com/user/nirandfar

https://twitter.com/nireyal

https://www.facebook.com/nirandfar/

http://instagram.com/neyal99

2:02 The F*ck of the Week: Becoming Indistractable

23:04 Brilliant or Bullsh*t: The Social Dilemma

44:20 Q&A: How do I get myself to do the things I know I should do?

Theme music: “Icarus Lives” by Periphery, used with permission from Periphery.