How To Ditch Your Distractions Once and For All

How To Ditch Your Distractions Once and For All

From How To! with Charles Duhigg by How To!

June 9, 2026 · 32 min · Episode 391

About this episode

This episode discusses how to overcome distractions and manage time effectively with insights from Nir Eyal.

There's one thing that all of Helena's personal projects have in common: they remain unfinished. The family photo album is empty, as is her mom's recipe book. And the lavender garden is still unplanted. Helena is not lazy. In fact, she's a busy lawyer who has no problem finishing tasks at the office. But she's also a busy mother raising a family, and free time is hard to come by. So how can Helena banish her distractions? On this episode of How To!, the first in a two-part series on time management, we talk to Nir Eyal, author of Indistractable: How To Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. Nir used to be just as distracted as Helena, but then he figured out some tricks to break free from his stray thoughts. He explains why procrastination isn't a sign of laziness, it's a sign of discomfort. And why it's more important to address your feelings than silence your push notifications. If you liked this episode, check out: "How To Stop Procrastinating" and make sure to tune in next week to learn how to set the perfect deadline.

People in this episode

Host: Mike Pesca

Guest: Nir Eyal

Topics covered

  • distractions
  • time management
  • procrastination
  • personal projects
  • attention control

Keywords

  • distractions
  • time management
  • procrastination
  • Nir Eyal
  • Indistractable

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Peach Fish Projects

Books & works: Indistractable: How To Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life

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