{"id":58899,"date":"2022-02-25T18:10:32","date_gmt":"2022-02-25T22:10:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=58899"},"modified":"2026-01-20T17:42:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T21:42:18","slug":"easily-distracted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/easily-distracted\/","title":{"rendered":"Easily Distracted: Why It’s So Difficult to Focus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you get easily distracted? Do you know why your brain finds it hard to focus<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hyperfocus involves single-tasking for a prolonged period of time. Distractions, which Bailey defines as anything that diverts our attention from our original purpose, thwart our ability to hyperfocus. Therefore, limiting distractions<\/a> is a critical part of hyperfocus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll discuss just how bad we are at avoiding distractions<\/a> and why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why We’re Easily Distracted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bailey highlights how our biological tendencies hamper our ability to do modern-day knowledge work<\/a>: They make us terrible at avoiding modern-day distractions. Bailey references several studies as evidence for our easily distracted minds. One study found that when you work on a computer, you get distracted every 40 seconds. Another found that you toggle between apps on your computer 566 times each workday\u2014both for work and non-work-related tasks. And we\u2019ve already seen how bad task-shifting<\/a> is for our productivity. (Shortform note: Your age also affects your distractibility<\/a>: The older you are, the more distractible you become\u2014especially if you\u2019re stressed. Research indicates this may be due to the diminishing function of the \u200b\u200blocus coeruleus, a brain region that helps direct your neural activity when you\u2019re stressed<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also have a \u201cnovelty bias\u201d: Our brains release a hit of dopamine whenever we do something new. Just as we do something new every time we switch tasks, we do something new every time we give in to a distraction\u2014this gives you a hit of dopamine and feels good. And, as we all know, it\u2019s hard to avoid doing things that feel good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: If we like getting distracted because it feels good, then making distractions feel bad should help us avoid them. One strategy is to punish yourself when you give in to distraction: Humans find the possibility of avoiding loss (or avoiding punishment) more motivational than potential gains<\/a>. For best results, punish yourself with an activity that feels immediately bad but supports your overall goals<\/a>. For example, you could do five pushups for every distraction you give into.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bailey also implies that our brains\u2019 desire to conserve energy may also make us prone to distraction. Your brain might resist hyperfocus because hard tasks take up a lot of energy, and it would rather do something easier and more immediately distracting\u2014a desire that most potential distractions satisfy. Your brains\u2019 desire for energy also explains why ignoring distractions is counterproductive: You use willpower<\/a> and energy trying to ignore distractions, which exhausts you, so your brain wants to conserve even more energy and becomes even more prone to distraction.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: If your brain is prone to distraction because it wants to conserve energy, then the more energy you have, the less distractible you should be. Roy Baumeister<\/a> posited a similar idea when he described \u201cego depletion,\u201d the idea that you have a limited pool of willpower or mental resources you deplete each day. After depleting your ego<\/a>, you may be able to re-energize your willpower\u2014and thus avoid distractions more effectively\u2014by eating sugar to re-energize your brain<\/a>.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you get easily distracted? Do you know why your brain finds it hard to focus? Hyperfocus involves single-tasking for a prolonged period of time. Distractions, which Bailey defines as anything that diverts our attention from our original purpose, thwart our ability to hyperfocus. Therefore, limiting distractions is a critical part of hyperfocus. We\u2019ll discuss just how bad we are at avoiding distractions and why.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":58901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,160],"tags":[566],"class_list":["post-58899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-psychology","category-science","tag-hyperfocus","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nEasily Distracted: Why It's So Difficult to Focus - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What's the deal with our easily distracted minds? 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