Getting sidetracked is all too easy in today’s fast-paced world. With a million things vying for our attention, staying focused can feel like an uphill battle. That’s why learning how to not get distracted is essential.
As the saying goes, “energy flows where attention goes.” So if you want to be your best self and achieve your goals, it’s time to master how to not get distracted.
Whether you’re struggling with internal or external distractions, Nir’s insights and techniques will help you regain control and make the most of every moment.
Why do you keep getting distracted?
It all comes down to our habits. And according to Nir Eyal, a renowned expert in the field of focus and habit formation and the mastermind behind Mindvalley’s Becoming Focused and Indistractable Quest, the root cause of all distractions is the desire to find relief from feeling bad.
As creatures of habit, we’ve learned that distraction can help us avoid pain or discomfort. And because we prefer staying safe in our comfort zone, we’re more likely to repeat the pattern over and over again.
But it’s not just our habits that cause distractions; technology also plays a huge role. Social media, funny cat videos, or staring at the ceiling—it’s like we’re hardwired to get sidetracked. In fact, studies have found that social media and constant notifications can significantly reduce our attention spans.
So instead of turning to distractions, we should emulate the habits of productive people and learn how to regulate our emotions in a healthy way. For example, if we’re feeling stressed, we could try going for a walk or practicing breathing exercises. These techniques can help us relax and focus on the present moment rather than get caught up in our own thoughts.
Distraction vs. traction
Imagine you’re trying to get some work done, and suddenly, your phone buzzes with a notification from Instagram. You decide to check it out, and before you know it, you’re lost an hour scrolling through pictures of cute cats and food.
In this scenario, the distraction is obvious. But what if you’re told the opposite of distraction isn’t focus? It’s actually traction.
- Traction is anything that pulls you towards your goals and helps you move closer to the life you want. It’s the things you do that align with your values and purpose.
- Distraction is anything that pulls you away from your goals and values.
The key to achieving traction is to identify what you want and align your actions with your goals. This means that you need to have a clear understanding of your values, vision, and purpose. And once you know what you want, you can start acting on it.
But here’s the catch: distractions will always be there. There will always be something or someone trying to pull you away from what you want to achieve.
The key is to learn how to manage those distractions and turn them into opportunities for growth.
Internal vs. external distractions
Nir’s experience teaches us that distractions come in all shapes and forms, and it’s not just technology that can take us away from our goals. Internal distractions like negative self-talk, anxiety, and stress can also derail us from our desired trajectory.
When you procrastinate, you’re not just wasting time; you’re also creating more internal distractions for yourself. For example, if you put off working on an important project, the stress and worry of not completing it on time can consume your thoughts, making it difficult to focus on anything else.
The problem of distractions has as much to do with us as it has to do with the distractions in our environment.
— Nir Eyal, trainer of Mindvalley’s Becoming Focused and Indistractable Quest
Don’t despair, though—it’s important to recognize that distractions will always be a part of life. However, developing healthy habits and mechanisms to manage them is the key to success.
By taking small steps like setting realistic goals, creating a routine, and practicing emotional regulation, you can learn how to focus and become more productive.
Nir Eyal’s tips to beat distractions
Just like a GPS, our biases, habits, and patterns of thinking can guide us toward our desired destination or lead us off track. It’s important to be aware of these biases and patterns so that we can take control of our lives and become indistractable.
The essential skill of our century is how to become indistractable.
— Nir Eyal, trainer of Mindvalley’s Becoming Focused and Indistractable Quest
1. Bring awareness to your distractions
To beat distractions, you have to know your enemy. One way to start is by figuring out what’s causing you to lose focus in the first place.
So try this exercise for a day:
- Jot down all the internal and external triggers that cause you to procrastinate. Maybe it’s the constant “ding!” of notifications from your phone, or maybe it’s your own racing thoughts and worries.
- Once you’ve identified these triggers, take it a step further and reflect on your actions for the day. What did you do that brought you closer to your goals? Maybe you finally tackled that big project you’ve been putting off.
And what did you do that moved you further away from what you really wanted? Did you spend too much time scrolling through social media instead of spending quality time with loved ones?
By being mindful of your actions and their efforts, you can begin to learn how to not get distracted and move towards a more focused and intentional life.
2. Use discomfort as rocket fuel
Have you ever felt dissatisfied with how your day went but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what went wrong?
Nir suggests taking a moment to reflect on those feelings and identify the triggers that caused them. By doing so, you can create a plan to avoid those triggers in the future and get in the flow of your daily life.
Nir also encourages you to look at those moments of discomfort as opportunities for growth. By reflecting on what went wrong and brainstorming alternative strategies, you can gain insight into your behavior and make positive changes.
3. Shift your mindset
Have you ever stopped to think about how your thinking process can impact your performance? According to Nir, changing your mindset about your temperament is the key to becoming indistractable and achieving high-performance habits.
But where do you start? It starts with self-compassion. And one way is to take notice of the negative labels you may be putting on yourself.
Take a moment and ask yourself these questions:
- Do you have any self-defeating beliefs about your abilities? Write down any labels you attach to yourself and consider whether they are actually serving you.
- How would you respond to a good friend who has experienced a setback? Write down what you would say to them if they failed to do something you tend to get distracted doing.
- How does your response to yourself at moments of setback or failure make you feel about yourself? Can you console yourself with the same words you’d offer a friend? Think about how you can change your future response to yourself to be more self-compassionate.
Remember, give yourself kindness and compassion. You may soon notice that your patterns of self-sabotage and procrastination are slowly fading away.
How to not get distracted while studying
Whether you’re still in school or doing online learning, you may find yourself wishing you knew how to not get distracted while studying. It happens to the best of us. But don’t worry; there are ways to combat this issue.
One of the best strategies is time-blocking. This technique is especially useful now that almost everything is digital and distractions are just a click away. By dedicating a set amount of time to a specific task, like reading 100 pages of modern history, you can help keep yourself laser-focused.
But it’s not just about setting aside time. You can also use the mind principles discussed earlier, like self-compassion and mindfulness, to help you stay on task. And if you’re wondering how to not get distracted while doing homework or studying for an exam, time-blocking is a great place to start.
Block out time for reading, note-taking, and revising, and see how much more productive you can be. It’s a game-changer for your ability to focus on homework.
How to not get distracted at work
It’s pretty common to lose focus at work, especially when every day seems to be like Groundhog Day. But there are ways to make it fun.
For one, Nir suggests finding ways to reimagine your tasks to avoid distractions. He explains that, just like when we were kids, we still love to play as adults. And play, fun, and novelty contribute to our ability to focus on specific tasks.
So when you’re trying to figure out how to not get distracted while reading or clickety-clacking on your computer, think about how you can make it more fun. Ask yourself:
- What can you do to reimagine the task?
- What small challenges or novelty can you add to make it more enjoyable?
And here’s a fun fact: Yoga helps boost productivity! Incorporating it into your daily routine can help clear your mind and increase your focus.
Remember, even small changes in the way you approach a task can make a big difference. As the famous saying goes, when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
Awaken your indistractable self
Are you tired of feeling constantly distracted at work? Do you want to unlock your full potential and become more focused, present, and productive? Then it’s time to learn how to not get distracted, and Mindvalley is here to help guide you on this journey.
With transformational quests like Becoming Focused and Indistractable with Nir Eyal, you’ll gain valuable insights into:
- Mastering your internal and external triggers,
- Making time for traction,
- Preventing distractions with pacts, and
- How to make your workplace more indistractable.
By claiming your free access to Mindvalley, you’ll have the chance to sample classes from this program and many others.
And the best part? You’ll be joining a community of like-minded individuals who may share your hopes and struggles.
Give yourself the chance to live your best life and unlock your indistractable self.
Welcome in.
