Summary
Distraction in the workplace is a pervasive issue that many employees face daily, often leading to unproductive habits. Nir Eyal, author of "Indistractable," emphasizes that the key to overcoming distractions lies not just in focusing harder but in understanding the underlying triggers that lead to distraction. He explains that both internal triggers, such as discomfort and boredom, and external triggers, like notifications and emails, can derail productivity. By recognizing these triggers, individuals can develop strategies to regain control over their attention.
Eyal outlines four main strategies to become "indistractable": mastering internal triggers, making time for traction, hacking back external triggers, and forming pacts to prevent distractions. He highlights the importance of planning and time management, advocating for a time-boxed calendar that allows individuals to allocate specific times for tasks based on their values and priorities. This approach encourages a more intentional use of time, helping individuals focus on what truly matters rather than succumbing to the pressures of urgent but less important tasks.
Moreover, Eyal points out that workplace culture plays a significant role in distraction levels. Companies that foster psychological safety, encourage open discussions about workload, and model indistractable behavior from management tend to have employees who feel less tethered to their devices and more engaged in their work. By addressing the cultural aspects of distraction, organizations can create environments that support focused work and employee well-being.
Show Notes
How To Be Less Distracted at Work – and in Life | HBR IdeaCastUploaded 22-03-2322 Mar 2023---Nir Eyal, an expert on technology and psychology, says that we all need to learn to be less distracted into activities that don’t help us achieve what we want to each day. Unwelcome behaviors can range from social media scrolling and bingeing on YouTube videos to chatting with colleagues or answering non-urgent emails. To break these habits, we start by recognizing that it is often our own emotions, not our devices, that distract us. We must then recognize the difference between traction (values-aligned work or leisure) and distraction (not) and make time in our schedules for more of the former. Eyal also has tips for protecting ourselves from the external distractions that do come at us and tools to force us to focus on bigger-picture goals. He is the author of the book Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life (https://www.amazon.com/Indistractable-Control-Your-Attention-Choose/dp/194883653X).This article originally aired on HBR IdeaCast on September 24, 2019.Listen to more HBR IdeaCast episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzAU8TPKsJuaxff5Cp0P2DKE_tFyaWOOaYou can also listen to this episode on HBR.org, and wherever you listen to podcasts: - HBR.org (transcript available here): https://hbr.org/podcast/2019/09/how-to-be-less-distracted-at-work-and-in-life- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-be-less-distracted-at-work-and-in-life/id152022135?i=1000451042611- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4I2X4dbzvqkKZHbebqwEzq?si=4e3193d7bc804984- Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/hbr-ideacast/episode/how-to-be-less-distracted-at-work-and-in-life-64121681- Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmhhcnZhcmRidXNpbmVzcy5vcmcvaGFydmFyZGJ1c2luZXNzL2lkZWFjYXN0/episode/dGFnOmF1ZGlvLmhici5vcmcsMjAwNi0wNS0wODppZGVhY2FzdC4wNzAx?sa=X&ved=0CAIQuIEEahcKEwiAwI-Z4O_9AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQNQSeries Description: A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management.About Harvard Business Review: Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, books, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review aims to provide professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to help lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact. Learn more at www.hbr.org.Chapters:00:00 – Intro1:33 – Distraction is Habitual6:09 – Four Ways to Become Indistractable11:29 – Managing External Distractions14:43 – Time Boxing/Schedule Syncing19:37 – Making Pacts with Yourself and Others22:23 – Distraction at Work Is a Symptom of Cultural Dysfunction26:24 – OutroFollow Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/HBR/ https://twitter.com/HarvardBiz https://www.instagram.com/harvard_business_review/ Sign up for Newsletters: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters #HarvardBusinessReview #business #management Copyright © 2022 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Do I Improve the Role I Have? (HBR Podcast)Uploaded 05-05-225 May 2022---Part three of our four-part special series, Find Joy in Any Job, with Marcus Buckingham on how to design your work to focus on what you love.A lot of us are feeling unhappy and disengaged at work – and that started long before the pandemic. A big part of the problem, says Marcus Buckingham, is that we don’t take the initiative to do more of the tasks that we truly love. After identifying what most energizes and excites you about your current role or employer, you can try a host of strategies to shape your work around those things.In this special series from HBR, we’re looking at how to find love in your work. In this episode, we explain how to shift your current role to focus on what really drives you.IdeaCast co-host Alison Beard speaks with Marcus Buckingham, head of research on people and performance at the ADP Research Institute and author of the new book Love + Work.Listen to all Find Joy in Any Job episodes here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzAU8TPKsJub1TwtUIBDKN28fnTNtQBq8You can also listen to this episode on HBR.org, and wherever you listen to podcasts: - HBR.org (transcript available here): https://hbr.org/podcast/2022/04/find-joy-in-any-job-how-do-i-improve-the-role-i-have - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/find-joy-in-any-job-how-do-i-improve-the-role-i-have/id152022135?i=1000558281934 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/09n5uoKdrbwCdragnlUQ8j - Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/hbr-ideacast/episode/find-joy-in-any-job-how-do-i-improve-the-role-i-have-202557539 - Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmhhcnZhcmRidXNpbmVzcy5vcmcvaGFydmFyZGJ1c2luZXNzL2lkZWFjYXN0/episode/dGFnOmF1ZGlvLmhici5vcmcsMjAwNi0wNS0wODppZGVhY2FzdC4wODUz?sa=X&ved=0CAcQkfYCahgKEwiw_eOE9bn3AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQhS4 Series Description: HBR IdeaCast’s Find Joy in Any Job is a special four-part series with renowned management thinker Marcus Buckingham. At a time when 41% of us are considering quitting our current roles, we'll offer a better solution: a way to improve them. We'll capture voices from workers around the world and explore why so many feel unhappy and disengaged. We'll explain how to pinpoint the aspects of work that you do (or could) love and how to shift your responsibilities to those areas. Finally, we'll discuss how to build a team and organization full of people who love what they do. Marcus is the head of research on people and performance at the ADP Research Institute and author of the new book Love + Work (as well as co-author of the best-selling Nine Lies About Work). He'll be joined by IdeaCast co-host Alison Beard. About Harvard Business Review: Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, books, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review aims to provide professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to help lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact. Learn more at www.hbr.org. Chapters:00:00 Open00:35 Intro02:24 Turn What You Love Into a Contribution04:54 Manage Up To Maximize What You Love09:24 How To Stop Doing What You Loathe13:00 Look Through a Lens of Love14:06 How This Affects Teams17:03 Formalize a Role Shift19:37 Embrace Others’ Loves and Strengths22:08 Side Hustles as a Solution24:22 Outcomes of Improving Your RoleFollow Harvard Business Review:https://hbr.org/https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/https://www.facebook.com/HBR/https://twitter.com/HarvardBizhttps://www.instagram.com/harvard_business_reviewSign up for Newsletters: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters#HarvardBusinessReview #Joy #JobCopyright © 2022 Harvard Business School Publis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices