Be Indistractable
I love the idea of becoming "Indistractable". Here's a few exercises you can use in your mental gym to grow your "indistractable" muscle.
Wait, what does "indistractable" mean?
Learning to be indistractable means learning to stay focused. Really focused. It means being a professional instead of someone who only casually commits to their work.
When you cannot be distracted, you're able to find flow and deep work. You're able to ignore the brain's cravings for easy dopamine.
Being indistractable means knowing how to stay in the weeds, doing the work in private that you talk about doing in public.
We live in a mega distracting world. Being indistractable is rare – so rare it may even be your edge.
So, how do you become less distractable?
I've been reading around the subject for a few weeks, and here's a few things you can try:
🗣️ The Mantra
When the work gets hard, and distraction starts knocking, remind yourself: "This is what truly getting better feels like."
Refuse its offers. "No thanks! I choose to stay focused."
Tell yourself: "Maybe I'm at the door of a breakthrough, and that's why it's hard. Rather than not even knocking, I'm going to kick it down!"
⌚️ Not For 10 Minutes
Allow the distraction, but not for 10 minutes. Set a timer.
For the next 10 minutes, forget about Sam on Tinder, who just sent you 16 consecutive messages and a voice note. That's not normal behaviour.
For the next 10 minutes just keep going. Don't engage at all with any distractions.
In those 10 minutes, you'll probably figure out how to get unstuck. You might realise that IG or Tinder is an even worse use of your time.
And if not, no problem! Go enjoy the distraction. Maybe you need it.
🙋 The Why List
Keep a list of "whys".
When you pick up your phone, or open that blank tab bound for Instagram, stop. First simply answer the question "Why?" Write down your answer.
If you feel like the why aligns with your goals, awesome.
But sometimes you'll realise it's a weak "why" and scrap the whole idea.
Bonus: you can look through your whys later to understand your own distractible behaviour, and maybe consider other solutions.
🔥 Burn It
Pop-quiz? How long do you think you can stay focused for? 2 hours? 4 hours? How much do you want to bet?
Roll up a £20 note.
Put it in an ashtray. Leave a lighter right beside it.
PS: this strategy works even better with Apple Pay, but it something more like a £900 note.
Set a timer for your wagered focus time. 2 hours? Let's go!
If you get distracted within 2 hours, no problem... just go burn the £20 and enjoy reading those 16 messages. £1.25 per message!
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Whether you use any of these or not, consider how "distractable" you are, and whether you're okay with that. You can change it, and your work will thank you.
PS: Indistractable by Nir Eyal is a great book. It only took him 5 years to write it. None of us are immune.