Indistractable
How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life
by Nir Eyal · first published 2019
52% recommend39% neutral9% critical
Why HN recommends it
Frames distraction as a way the mind avoids discomfort and focuses on addressing root emotional causes rather than surface habits; suits anyone wanting practical tactics for focus and phone or app overuse.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
You sit down at your desk to work on an important project, but a notification on your phone interrupts your morning. Later, as you're about to get back to work, a colleague taps you on the shoulder to chat. At home, screens get in the way of quality time with your family. Another day goes by, and once again, your most important personal and professional goals are put on hold. What would be possible if you followed through on your best intentions? What could you accomplish if you could stay focused and overcome distractions? What if you had the power to become "indistractable"?
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
Atomic Habits
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 85 recommend · 8 mention5 recommend · 85 recommend
2014–2026Hooked
Nir Eyal
Recommended by 28 · mentioned by 6128 recommend · 61 mention28 recommend · 6128 recommend
2014–2024Mini Habits
Stephen Guise
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 129 recommend · 12 mention9 recommend · 129 recommend
2018–2026Can't Hurt Me
David Goggins
Recommended by 29 · mentioned by 3729 recommend · 37 mention29 recommend · 3729 recommend
2014–2026Addiction by design
Natasha Dow Schüll
Recommended by 30 · mentioned by 3830 recommend · 38 mention30 recommend · 3830 recommend
2018–2026Atomic Habits
James Clear
Recommended by 191 · mentioned by 335191 recommend · 335 mention191 recommend · 335191 recommend
2016–2026Digital Minimalism
Cal Newport
Recommended by 59 · mentioned by 9659 recommend · 96 mention59 recommend · 9659 recommend
2020–2026Breath
James Nestor
Recommended by 41 · mentioned by 5941 recommend · 59 mention41 recommend · 5941 recommend
Some books that helped me: - The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins - Indistractable by Nir Eyal - Mastery by Robert Greene
on “How a lazy bitch like me learned to be productive” ↗For anyone interested, Indistractable by Nir Eyal is a good read on this topic. The premise is that distraction is a mechanism that the mind uses to deal with discomfort. He talks about solving the the root cause (emotions) rather than just…
on “Ask HN: What are good life skills for people to learn?” ↗…real job, where you don't have a choice you have to get up and start work. The good thing is if there's something you repeatedly aren't enjoying then modify the schedule! I got the idea from the book Indistractable by Nir Eyal if you want to look more into dealing with distractions in general
on “Ask HN: Solo developer, what's your recipe to start working?” ↗Indistractable goes through the root to why we get addicted and how to fight it a bit. Turn off all notifications, uninstall apps, get a dumb watch so you don't check your phone for time, etc etc... https://www.amazon.com/Indistractable-Control-Your-Attention...
on “Ask HN: Mobile phone addiction help?” ↗"Indistractable" by Eyal Nir is a good book if you want to dive into this topic.
on “How to Break a Phone Addiction” ↗…of practice. Closing the door is a good strategy. I can't do the 'earphones in, work mode on' strategy, music is a distraction - so simply put, years of practice. I've heard good things about the book Indistractable by Nir Eyal. I'll get around to reading it when I'm not busy / distracted.
on “Ask HN: How do you deal with distractions while working from home?” ↗I posted this a while back: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48990399 Maybe it helps you as well. Additionally I highly recommend the book "Indistractable" by Nir Eyal. Best book on living a distraction free life.
on “Ask HN: How can we care more about fewer things?” ↗I highly recommend Indistractable by Nir Eyal
on “Glued to Your Phone? Here's How to Rethink Your Relationship with Social Media” ↗May I recommend reading Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life as a practical and pro tech guide for managing tech distraction
on “Ask HN: Books you plan to read in 2020?” ↗…so anyone can use them to help people build better behaviors through the technology we use and the book has been used in all sorts of industries, from education to healthcare, to build better habits. Indistractable uses my expertise to provide an antidote to all sorts of distraction, not just tech related. It's an empowering look at the topic that is much more actionable than going on a "digital detox" or vilifying…
on “How to Be Indistractable” ↗Check out out Nir Eyal's book "Indistractable"[1]. It's about 5 hours long with plenty of useful tips for becoming indistractable. 1: https://www.nirandfar.com/indistractable/
on “We live in an age of distractions, dealing with constant mental stimulus” ↗…watching TV or picking up a book. Your habit was built over months and years. You won't change it in a day. The first step is just noticing your feelings (harder than it sounds!). I recommend the book Indistractable [1]. It gives a lot more detail about how these internal distractions are the root cause of a lot of procrastination habits. Just reading the book will not fix your problem in the same way as reading…
on “Ask HN: Addicted to Phone, Want to Stop” ↗His followup book, Indistractable, is also quite good.
on “Engineered Addictions” ↗See also (two weeks ago): Tech execs who raise their kids tech-free or limit their screen time (2020) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34186349 Including a recommendation of "Indistractable" by Nir Eyal. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PG2W6DC
on “YouTube Addiction” ↗…difference? Any new ideas that you've read about that you'd like to try? Personally, I'm experimenting with the idea of automated personal/positive affirmations based on something I read in the book "Indistractable": > For example, short text messages providing words of encouragement are effective at helping smokers quit. A metastudy of interventions form ten countries found that "the evidence provides unequivocal…
on “Ask HN: How do you work on your mental health?” ↗