What's really destroying your productivity - and 3 simple ways to focus better today

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There is a dangerous chemical in your home that's affecting your productivity. 😲

If you've been wondering:

• How to improve your productivity?
• How to work from home and still get things done?
• How to manage unexpected interruptions?

This article is for you.

Who am I?

The invisible chemical that's stealing your focus

I hope you're ready for this…

The sneaky culprit in your home that is quietly wrecking your productivity is...

Dopamine! 💉

It's delivered through every screen in your home and has been weaponized by big tech to keep you hooked. 😡

That urge to check social media or your messages… that's your body craving another hit of that sweet, sweet dopamine.

If you are unfamiliar with dopamine, you know that feeling you get when you find money in your pocket. That's dopamine.

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In a word, it's Intoxicating!

Here's why it's so dangerous not only to your productivity but your well-being:

You're always chasing that next high

Dopamine's got us hooked on instant rewards like checking our phones, scrolling social, and chasing likes. Our brains run from one shiny thing to the next, making it impossible to lock in and focus on anything meaningful.

Your focus is toast

The average person can only stay locked in for 40 seconds before something pulls their attention. That's barely enough time to read this sentence. If you paused or thought about checking your phone while reading, it's not hard to see how this chemical is so addictive.

Stuck in the loop

Here's the kicker: dopamine rewards what triggers it, so you keep returning for more. More scrolling, clicking, and swiping feed the cycle.

Meanwhile, the real stuff that matters, like long-term goals, gets pushed to the side because they don't feel as good as the rush dopamine gives us.

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This endless loop keeps us prioritizing quick hits of gratification over real progress on our long-term goals. That's why we spend the day feeling busy but end up questioning what we actually accomplished.

You may be wondering why I'm sharing all this. 

I'm sharing it because understanding what was happening to me was how I made my first breakthrough, so stay with me; this is important.

How I became more productive

My journey toward taming my focus probably started the same as yours… 

Googling and watching videos on YouTube. 

But for whatever reason, most suggestions wasted more time or were just another thing to manage.

Also: I've tested a lot of AI tools for work. These 4 actually help me get more done every day

One day, my phone had no service during a flight, and I wasn't about to pay extortion prices to stay connected. 😤

I realized just how productive I was without phone service.

For whatever reason, that plane noise made me feel calm.

Then it hit me: I should take more flights to be productive.

I quickly realized how unsustainable that would be, lol, so I figured there must be this noise on YouTube.

What I discovered next shocked me. I came across several videos with millions of views. It turns out this is a thing, and I've found my people!

This video is my go-to.

(Spoiler, I'm listening to this right now.)

PRO TIP: Use an ad blocker or YouTube Premium so you don't get the ads.

The hacks that got me to the next level 

I quickly realized I can't be trusted with my phone so the best thing to do is not have it around. 

To stay locked in, I leave my phone in the car. The idea is simple: I'm not walking all the way back to get it.

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If you live in a city or area where your car will likely get broken into, try leaving it in another room.

Here are some other things I do. 

1. My secret weapon!

I bought a digital kitchen timer on Amazon, and let me tell you, this little device is clutch 🏆. It's become a key part of my everyday routine.

What I love most is that I can use it as a countdown timer or track how long it takes me to complete a task.

Here's how I use it: I set a timer for 30 minutes to an hour (depending on what I'm doing), and during that time, it's a game. If I deviate from the task, I lose.

Yes, I've replaced one dopamine hit with another… I'm a genius! 😏

In all seriousness, the clock is important, but what really makes this work so well is the mental game I play.

2. A tangible to-do list

One thing about me is I love a pen and a piece of paper. For me, writing things down just hits different. There's something about "putting it to paper" that feels better than using a digital Kanban board. 

So, every night, I sit with my thoughts and plan what to do for the next day, and then I time block it. It usually looks something like this:

• 9:00 - 11:00: Create Productivity Article 📝
• 11:15 - 12:00: Create LinkedIn Post  💼

I always give myself a little buffer between tasks.

PRO TIP: It's easy to overestimate what we can accomplish in a day. I do it all the time. To fix this, I create a list with at most 5 tasks. The first few focus on driving revenue, while the last two are usually admin tasks. A mentor once told me, "Do the things that make the most money first."

3. The only app I need to stay focused

The only app I use doesn't let me use other apps.

Trust me, the irony isn't lost on me.  🤦‍♂️

Let me tell you about Opal. It's a screen time management app that helps people like you and me reduce distractions and enhance focus.

It blocks access to selected apps and websites.

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I like to call it notifications jail because, as we've already established, I leave nothing to chance. 

Here's how Opal works: you pick the apps you don't want access to and set a session for when you can access them. 🚫📲

I'm on the paid plan that doesn't let me cancel a session while it's in progress, and honestly, it works.

BTW, if you're using a productivity app that you think is better or you have a tip you would like to share, connect with me on LinkedIn.

My final thoughts

Often, gurus paint a picture of productivity as this incredible utopia where they crush it every second of every day, and that's not the case.

Dopamine is one hell of a drug, and you'll have good days and bad days.

Managing our distractions isn't about perfection; it's about becoming a better version of yourself.

Simply put, it's a journey, not a destination.  📌

Find what works for you because that's the only way to stick with it. 

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Set realistic goals, don't be too hard on yourself, and focus on the basics. 🫶

• Have a clean workspace
• Prioritize what really needs to get done
• Sleep enough
• Create a routine
• Practice saying no and protecting your time

And yes, I know I've been a little dramatic, but trust me on this, if unchecked, chasing dopamine can quietly rob you of your time and future.

😇 Hope this helps; I'm rooting for you.

P.S. Want more data-driven marketing insights or more content like this? Sign up for my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. I share what's working in the world of digital marketing, the latest trends, and the occasional pep talk to keep you inspired. If this sounds like your jam and you wanna be besties forever, click here to sign up. It's totally FREE!