Nir Eyal Talks About Becoming Indistractable and Managing Distractions

In this Flashback Friday episode of A Productive Conversation, I talk with Nir Eyal, the bestselling author of Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. Nir offers actionable strategies for avoiding distractions and making time for what matters most.

We discuss the difference between traction and distraction, how internal triggers influence our actions, and the power of identity in shaping habits. Nir’s insights are as practical as they are profound, offering listeners tools to become truly indistractable.

Key Discussion Points

• Why the opposite of distraction is traction—not focus.
• How internal triggers are the root cause of distractions.
• The importance of forethought and planning in productivity.
• Why identity plays a crucial role in habit formation.
• The difference between pseudo-work and meaningful work.
• How to balance technology use without letting it control you.

If you’re struggling to manage distractions or want to learn how to focus better, this episode is a must-listen. (Originally released October 2019)

Links Worth Exploring

• Connect with Nir: Website | X/Twitter
• Get the book: Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life
• Check out Nir’s podcast: Nir and Far
• Nir would like you to check this out: Schedule Maker
• Related Conversation: Episode 201: Willpower Doesn’t Work with Benjamin Hardy
• Related Blog Post: The 106 Year Old Problem

Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. You can subscribe on Spotify and also on Apple Podcasts. Not using either of those to get your podcasts? Just click on this link and then paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grab My New Book: The Productivity Diet: A Practical Guide to Nurturing your Productive Potential

If you’re looking to build a sustainable, personalized productivity practice that actually sticks, my latest book is for you. It’s available now—wherever books are sold. Learn more at mikevardy.com/lit or request it at your favorite local bookstore.