Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

Strategies for becoming less distracted and improving focus | Nir Eyal (author of Indistractable and Hooked)

Dec 29, 2023

Nir Eyal, the bestselling author of "Hooked" and "Indistractable," delves into strategies for overcoming distractions and enhancing focus. He discusses the crucial distinction between distraction and traction, emphasizing the value of booking time for deep work. Eyal introduces the 10-minute rule to combat internal triggers and suggests evolving from traditional to-do lists to timeboxing aligned with personal values. He shares insights on identity pacts and creating a distraction-free workspace, offering valuable advice for both individuals and leaders seeking improved concentration.

01:24:42

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Nir Eyal

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Quick takeaways

Identifying and addressing internal triggers is crucial to overcoming distraction and staying focused.

Creating a time-boxed schedule based on personal values helps prioritize important tasks and aligns intentions with actions.

Effective management of external triggers, such as notifications or interruptions, is key to protecting focus and reducing distractions.

Implementing pacts, such as price pacts or identity pacts, can serve as powerful tools to prevent distraction and maintain focus.

Deep dives

Mastering Internal Triggers

The key to overcoming distraction is to understand and address the internal triggers that prompt us to seek escape or avoid discomfort. By identifying and acknowledging these triggers, such as boredom, anxiety, or fatigue, we can prepare ourselves with tools like the 10-minute rule or surfing the urge. This empowers us to recognize that these triggers are just feelings and that we can exert control over them.

Prioritize Important Work over Distractions

00:37

Turn Values into schedule 🙌

01:59

The Power of Forethought in Overcoming Distraction

01:48

Measuring Productivity Effectively

02:18

Intro

5min

Mastering Distraction

19min

Mastering Productivity Through Structured Scheduling

20min

Enhancing Focus and Career Growth: Strategies and Tools

2min

Mastering Focus: Identity and Effort Pacts

10min

Cultivating Agency and Indistractability in Modern Society

4min

Creating an Indistractable Workspace

17min

Proactive Paths to Personal Growth

7min

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 full transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/strategies-for-becoming-less-distractible

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Where to find Nir Eyal:

• X: https://twitter.com/nireyal

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

• Website: https://www.nirandfar.com/

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Where to find Lenny:

• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com

• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/