* full-title:: [How to Stay Focused in an Age of Distraction](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9)
site:: [Todoist Inspiration Hub](https://todoist.com/it/inspiration/stay-focused-age-distraction-beginners-guide-meaningful-productivity)
author:: pedroa
labels:: [[productivity]]
date-saved:: [[13-10-2023]]
date-published:: [[16-06-2015]]
date-archived:: [[14-10-2023]]
is-archived:: 10
source:: [[Omnivore]]
state:: [[archived]]

	- * ### Highlights
	  collapsed:: true
		- * id:: 9e0ecc6b-7f3d-49c4-b8b2-40122ba5d655
		  > these standards are not measuring our productivity, but rather how efficient we are at administrative tasks. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#9e0ecc6b-7f3d-49c4-b8b2-40122ba5d655)
		- * id:: 462dbedc-6586-4971-b3d3-259b717c711c
		  > They skew towards rewarding effective busywork while giving little dignity to **meaningful work**. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#462dbedc-6586-4971-b3d3-259b717c711c)
		- * id:: cca9f27d-48c1-4559-b30b-9ec0dce8dcad
		  > more focus on consistently giving our time and attention to the things which are most important. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#cca9f27d-48c1-4559-b30b-9ec0dce8dcad)
		- * id:: 80039048-dc91-4ec8-bbbb-2f1c79349662
		  > what is truly important to us. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#80039048-dc91-4ec8-bbbb-2f1c79349662)
		- * id:: be76b5de-613e-44b5-9256-3dfba749a231
		  > “Must”? [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#be76b5de-613e-44b5-9256-3dfba749a231)
		- * id:: d044370e-aee6-4001-a269-36b1c5b41259
		  > Time away from all the noise and time to think and to ask ourselves challenging questions about our roles in life, our values, our dreams, and more. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#d044370e-aee6-4001-a269-36b1c5b41259)
		- * id:: 371e8143-a49e-4d99-8759-c8b2d9f4ac11
		  > life’s vision and values [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#371e8143-a49e-4d99-8759-c8b2d9f4ac11)
		- * id:: d112d797-6048-43f5-9ffc-7b54455a8c5b
		  > very foundation of meaningful productivity. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#d112d797-6048-43f5-9ffc-7b54455a8c5b)
		- * id:: 6be60bfd-7a64-4621-9320-4e0859c79a9b
		  > But what I didn’t anticipate was just how easy it would be for a full-time writer to never actually write. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#6be60bfd-7a64-4621-9320-4e0859c79a9b)
		- * id:: 76ac5728-48ec-4631-b51d-a84277d06332
		  > I was spending the best part of my day checking inboxes and analytics. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#76ac5728-48ec-4631-b51d-a84277d06332)
		- * id:: ed048b2e-efcf-496a-9e41-39e245fc5bb6
		  > Yet the process of checking all these inboxes and statistics usually took an hour or more and often devolved into unproductive busywork or mindless surfing. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#ed048b2e-efcf-496a-9e41-39e245fc5bb6)
		- * id:: 22dafcd5-bb37-4e9d-904d-e1bf9f46ce09
		  > Therefore, I changed my morning habits. I made a commitment to write for 30 minutes first thing in the morning no matter what. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#22dafcd5-bb37-4e9d-904d-e1bf9f46ce09)
		- * id:: 4713a975-3ec7-4a88-9ef0-79de9579c2b7
		  > I was committed to write for at least half an hour. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#4713a975-3ec7-4a88-9ef0-79de9579c2b7)
		- * id:: 2647fec3-d78f-4bbf-b32c-f168423ca7e4
		  > change my morning habits. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#2647fec3-d78f-4bbf-b32c-f168423ca7e4)
		- * id:: 57ef6321-9dbc-4cf4-a315-9e1b84b25f71
		  > But the things invented after you turn 30 you reject as being crazy or evil or who knows what. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#57ef6321-9dbc-4cf4-a315-9e1b84b25f71)
		- * id:: 755ff865-3707-4ef1-8a70-8bafd65ea4f6
		  > Make Doing the Most Important Work Part of Your Routine [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#755ff865-3707-4ef1-8a70-8bafd65ea4f6)
		- * id:: 2ad24c65-2b58-40a5-8914-3d376d39d14d
		  > When I know when and where I’ll be writing, and what I’ll be writing about, I can’t wait to get to work. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#2ad24c65-2b58-40a5-8914-3d376d39d14d)
		- * id:: 6a7763af-5fbf-495f-9176-9a8f8235c123
		  > There is literally nothing for me to think about other than moving the big blue blinking cursor from left to right. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#6a7763af-5fbf-495f-9176-9a8f8235c123)
		- * id:: 62f6069c-94cc-48ef-889b-3be70533cf23
		  > Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#62f6069c-94cc-48ef-889b-3be70533cf23)
		- * id:: 13f6d4b4-b0ce-412b-9c1e-d1e0f33ea341
		  > Inbox addiction poses a serious threat to doing our best creative work and staying on focus with our essential tasks. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#13f6d4b4-b0ce-412b-9c1e-d1e0f33ea341)
		- * id:: 41aeb9ce-5b8e-45c4-8369-50204d6e0600
		  > It’s a drain on our time as well as a drain on our creative energy. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#41aeb9ce-5b8e-45c4-8369-50204d6e0600)
		- * id:: 0cd5aa6b-c7fc-4c15-af0d-723003df5e2d
		  > The problem is that when urgency is the \*dominant factor\* in our lives, importance isn’t. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#0cd5aa6b-c7fc-4c15-af0d-723003df5e2d)
		- * id:: 6bfae37e-0e51-4d5d-bfc8-5c53f0961fba
		  > essential work is often mundane. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#6bfae37e-0e51-4d5d-bfc8-5c53f0961fba)
		- * id:: f3b949a6-8415-4622-8f34-4f15d93fc0f4
		  > it feels exciting. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#f3b949a6-8415-4622-8f34-4f15d93fc0f4)
		- * id:: 48a191a3-5bd5-41e1-bc65-a5308b9e9873
		  > The essential work is that you must put words down. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#48a191a3-5bd5-41e1-bc65-a5308b9e9873)
		- * id:: 01e791c1-21d4-4fcb-9482-439610b965f0
		  > difficult, boring, tedious, mundane. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#01e791c1-21d4-4fcb-9482-439610b965f0)
		- * id:: 66cffdd7-d3cb-480b-ab86-b8b81531bf85
		  > Essential is the very definition of what’s truly important. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#66cffdd7-d3cb-480b-ab86-b8b81531bf85)
		- * id:: 3ed12457-1828-4d0f-beef-5fd14405800c
		  > urgency is usually defined by external factors, essentialness is fundamentally important to a project or goal, regardless of external factors. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#3ed12457-1828-4d0f-beef-5fd14405800c)
		- * id:: 29cf41df-1331-4b63-806e-9e51c4051217
		  > we never have the time to do the important task which doesn’t have to be done today.
		  > 
		  How often do you feel frustrated at the end of the day because your most important tasks are still not done? [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#29cf41df-1331-4b63-806e-9e51c4051217)
		- * id:: c79e6e43-1a2a-4cd4-989a-ea37aba47310
		  > How often do you blame the rush and press of external things for your failure to do the work you know to be most important? [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#c79e6e43-1a2a-4cd4-989a-ea37aba47310)
		- * id:: 398e510f-57b6-4725-a603-d3da139aae7f
		  > How often do you find yourself giving up quality time with important people so that you can finish a project or respond to a crisis?
		  > 
		  **To let our lives be taken over by what is only urgent is to live like a child** — caring only about what seems important right now with no regard for the future and without even knowing what is actually important today. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#398e510f-57b6-4725-a603-d3da139aae7f)
		- * id:: 40849772-e4d2-49e7-bfdf-86ad8411888a
		  > newness of a project brings an energy that motivates us to get started. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#40849772-e4d2-49e7-bfdf-86ad8411888a)
		- * id:: 52da7449-b0f4-4f4d-a106-6c04fad82755
		  > urgency of a deadline brings an energy that motivates us to finish. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#52da7449-b0f4-4f4d-a106-6c04fad82755)
		- * id:: 2b5dc7ac-a258-491e-a692-96ebb597898e
		  > “in-between state” [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#2b5dc7ac-a258-491e-a692-96ebb597898e)
		- * id:: 2898def9-c697-4343-b787-91b3df5bfd47
		  > making it part of your routine to do your best creative work every day [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#2898def9-c697-4343-b787-91b3df5bfd47)
		- * id:: 64a83564-7ede-4bfa-9d48-144e827e26af
		  > They have a joy in the journey. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#64a83564-7ede-4bfa-9d48-144e827e26af)
		- * id:: 2d13fc38-2a47-4fce-bfa0-ed399a6b5134
		  > what we _get_ to do. Not something we _have_ to do. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#2d13fc38-2a47-4fce-bfa0-ed399a6b5134)
		- * id:: 46fefa99-c860-4d2b-8a29-97b42b72090d
		  > Meaningful work -- work that matters -- is something that I have to do. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#46fefa99-c860-4d2b-8a29-97b42b72090d)
		- * id:: b5dadd0b-5742-4950-b322-81484882af08
		  > Meaningful work is also something which I hope will make the lives of other people better. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#b5dadd0b-5742-4950-b322-81484882af08)
		- * id:: 90be79f6-59e3-4d86-b50d-eb4afa0a40ca
		  > Having joy in the journey is just that. [⤴️](https://omnivore.app/me/how-to-stay-focused-in-an-age-of-distraction-18b2a9b1ad9#90be79f6-59e3-4d86-b50d-eb4afa0a40ca)