Nir Eyal

JANUARY 8, 2024

You won’t evolve if you ignore your emotions. Mastering them is the best hack for becoming your best self at work and at home. I discovered the power of managing emotions when I set out to find a cure for my chronic distraction. I was struggling to the point that it was affecting my relationship with my daughter: whenever we spent quality time together, I found myself fiddling with my phone, my mind elsewhere.

Management 72

Management Management 72

Nir Eyal

DECEMBER 26, 2023

The Pacific Crest Trail is renowned as one of the most arduous—and sometimes dangerous—hiking trails in America. Every summer, thousands of intrepid walkers set off on the trail, beginning in spring and knowing they won’t arrive at the Canadian border until five months later. For most people, this sounds like a hellish feat of endurance. For University of Missouri professor Kennon Sheldon, it sounded like a perfect opportunity for a psychological experiment.

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Nir Eyal

DECEMBER 11, 2023

When I moved from a Google sales team in New York City to a Google operations team in Boulder, Colorado several years ago, I expected to find differences in culture and team norms. But one particular practice took me by surprise. Multitasking during meetings was rampant. Everyone was so distracted. This became grossly apparent during my first presentation in my new role.

Presentation 84

Presentation 84

Nir Eyal

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

For companies building products for enterprise customers, increasing customer retention by just 5 percent increases profits by 25 to 95 percent. Yet keeping customers isn’t easy. Eighty percent of B2B buyers say they switch suppliers at least once in two years. User retention is perhaps the most important metric for SaaS providers, who offer products or services that must engage customers regularly to ensure they don’t churn.

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Enterprise B2B 60

Nir Eyal

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

I got this message from Shane Parrish: “Oh I meant to tell you. I remember something you told me that I now share with everyone. It's made a difference for so many.” The “something” he’s referring to is a simple question that my wife and I have posed to each other throughout our 22-year marriage. We’ve been using this method for so long, I assumed it was common practice.

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Reference Messaging 104

Nir Eyal

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Think you’ll explode if you try one more ineffective productivity hack? Here’s what you need to know to actually hack back distraction: there are only three causes of any distraction: an internal trigger, an external trigger, or a planning problem. A distraction tracker is the only way to help you figure out which of those is causing you to get distracted so you can do something about it.

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Download 91

Nir Eyal

OCTOBER 17, 2023

Because I write about distraction and how to avoid it, I often get asked the question “Aren’t distractions sometimes a good thing? Don’t we all need some distraction in our lives?” Nope! The post The Crucial Difference Between Distraction and Diversion appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Nir Eyal

OCTOBER 3, 2023

One Sunday morning early in my career, I arrived at work to find a colleague of mine already there. We were working on a critical piece of software for an upcoming covert operation. He approached me shortly after I sat down at my desk. “That code you were writing was supposed to be done two days ago,” he said. “The operation is tonight, and we can’t go without you.

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Nir Eyal

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

We’ve all been in a dumb meeting—one that makes you think, “This doesn’t even apply to me,” “I’m learning nothing from this,” or, worst of all, “This meeting could have been an email.” I’m sure you’ve commiserated with colleagues over what a time suck dumb meetings can be. Still, you might have resigned yourself to dumb meetings, accepting them as an inevitable facet of the workplace.

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Nir Eyal

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

More times than I can count, I’ve slid under the bedsheets, turned off the light, and shut my eyes…only to have a great idea pop into my head. I’ll toss and turn for a while, hoping I’ll forget the thought. But if it’s a good one, I’ll turn on the light and, eyes bleary, scribble it down. The post When Do You Feel Most Creative? Why Ideas Bloom at Bedtime appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Nir Eyal

AUGUST 28, 2023

Even if you’re not sure about the power of morning affirmations, the science behind them is: When used correctly, self-affirmations can significantly affect your mindset and behavior. They have the power to rewire your brain, helping you break free from negative thought patterns and instill healthier habits. The post 32 Morning Affirmations: Rise and Shine!

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Nir Eyal

AUGUST 14, 2023

Some days, the world seems intent on sabotaging your timeboxed calendar. A meeting goes longer than expected. The daycare center calls to say that your child is ill and has to be picked up ASAP. A project you thought would take an hour to complete instead took three. Before you know it, the end of the day arrives, and you’ve barely given time to the tasks you had wanted to do.

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Events 86

Nir Eyal

JULY 31, 2023

When they came on the scene in the 2010s, enterprise messaging apps delivered the fast collaboration companies craved. A new world of internal messaging dawned in which anyone could ping anyone and get a near-immediate response. But in offering a potent solution, group messaging apps also introduced a problem: constant distraction at work. We’re drowning in notifications that lure us to diversion and degrade productivity.

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Messaging Enterprise 70

Nir Eyal

JULY 17, 2023

Venture capital (VC) is a great opportunity for new entrepreneurs seeking to bring a product to life—but the funding is incredibly difficult to secure. A survey of almost 900 VC firms found that they consider 101 opportunities on average for every deal they close. Still, the benefits of VC funding are clear. The post How to Build an Irresistible Product for VC Investors appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Product Research 52

Nir Eyal

JULY 3, 2023

Numerous articles detail the routines of the most successful people in the world: Apple CEO Tim Cook wakes up at 3:45 a.m. and exercises. Actor and producer Reese Witherspoon eats the same healthy breakfast. Society has become so focused on increasing productivity and packing the most into every day that we think of long-term, consistent routines as the gold standard for spending our time.

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Article 66

Nir Eyal

JUNE 19, 2023

Imagine your retirement. Are you picturing long, lazy days on a tropical beach under coconut trees? Maybe you’ve opted for a life of adventure, traveling to all the places you haven’t been to yet. Perhaps the science fiction novel you’ve always wanted to write is finally pouring out of you. But why should you wait until you retire to pursue those things?

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Travel 95

Nir Eyal

JUNE 5, 2023

The end of the school year is a magical time. Kids have made it through a grueling year of groggy early mornings, rigid class schedules, piles of homework, and endless extracurriculars. Finally, they have two whole months of sunny freedom. It’s a well-deserved break. But this gift of time can easily be squandered. The post How to Craft an ‘Indistractable’ Summer Schedule for Your Kids appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Nir Eyal

MAY 22, 2023

What would it look like if the world moved toward a four-day workweek? Time magazine says 2023 could be the year of the four-day workweek. But if the world is going to attempt this paradigm shift, we have to do our best to eliminate the obstacles. Companies and employees can use the methodology described in my book, Indistractable, to navigate this sea change.

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Magazine Books 88

Nir Eyal

MAY 8, 2023

It’s no secret companies spy on their staff. The rise of remote work has made corporate leaders paranoid, thinking they must monitor their employees’ every digital move. When employees know their performance is being measured by the rules of productivity software, they become motivated to prioritize emails and messages over their core work. Discover better ways to tackle distractions at work.

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Management Management Messaging 72

Nir Eyal

APRIL 24, 2023

So you want to write a book. Awesome! If you’ve made attempts already, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that writing is hard work. I’ve written two books and countless articles, and it wasn’t, and still isn’t, easy. I wrote my second book, Indistractable, about controlling your attention and choosing your life because I had such a hard time fighting distractions.

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Books Article 56

Nir Eyal

APRIL 10, 2023

When I was younger and involved in competitive sports, I had access to resources, including trainers, to help me understand what I needed to do to improve my performance. Now that level of guidance is hard to find without shelling out beaucoup bucks to hire a personal trainer. The post A Case Study in Implementing the Hooked Model: Gatorade’s Gx App appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Nir Eyal

MARCH 23, 2023

Now, more than ever, we have to be smart with our money. Yet navigating our personal finances and adhering to a budget can be a daunting task. However, there’s a free and fun technique that anyone can use to get back on track with their finances: getting a money buddy. The post Money Buddies: Don’t Go It Alone with Your Wallet appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Finance 104

Nir Eyal

MARCH 13, 2023

Every time I hear a productivity myth described as fact, I cringe as if listening to a snake oil salesman peddle his cures. Let me tell you, when I was writing my second book, Indistractable, I endlessly researched productivity and time management. I tried a lot of recommended methods and techniques myself. Some of them can be so incredibly helpful in controlling your attention and managing your time.

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Product Research Books Management Management 98

Nir Eyal

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

You wake up in the morning irritable and groggy but determined to be productive. Yesterday didn’t go well. You didn’t complete even the one big priority project that would have taken just a couple of hours if you’d focused. Still, you spent all day on the computer, even leaving your partner to handle dinnertime alone and canceling pickleball with friends.

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Nir Eyal

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

The German writer and philosopher Goethe believed he could predict someone’s future based on one simple fact. “If I know how you spend your time,” he wrote, “then I know what might become of you.” Seeing how you spend your time reveals your values and, thus, shows where your investment of time, attention, and effort will lead you. The post One Question to Ask Yourself to Know Your Future appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Nir Eyal

JANUARY 30, 2023

If you haven’t finalized your New Year’s resolutions, consider committing to binge-watch a show on a regular basis.Okay, it doesn’t have to be binge-watching. Another guilty-pleasure-esque activity works, too. Perhaps your preferred procrastination is jamming to ‘80s music videos on YouTube or browsing Amazon for new gadgets. Whatever it is, set aside time for it and do it.

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Nir Eyal

JANUARY 16, 2023

People make time for who and what they want, and you should, too. Though the author is unknown, this saying has become an axiom to soothe distraught thoughts. Some use it as reasoning to understand why another person isn’t making time for them. The post People Make Time for What They Want — Rightfully So appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Nir Eyal

JANUARY 2, 2023

As New Year’s Eve approaches, so does the customary exercise of introspection and self-reflection. The practice of examining ourselves can be a powerfully healthy one. Done correctly, it leads to self-awareness, which increases our ability to exercise control over our emotions and provides a greater sense of well-being. But done incorrectly, self-reflection can go awry.

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Nir Eyal

DECEMBER 19, 2022

How will you spend your precious time in the coming year? As one year ends and another begins, many of us won’t help but reflect on who we are and who we’d like to become. Most people aiming to emulate their ideal selves will resort to New Year’s resolutions—but more often than not, those are doomed to fail. The post ’Tis the Season for Reexamining Your Values appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Nir Eyal

DECEMBER 14, 2022

The post Paperform “quiz” appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Nir Eyal

DECEMBER 6, 2022

Productivity has many enemies: too many meetings, external triggers like interruptions from coworkers, whether virtual or in person, and multitasking the wrong way, to name a few. But more often than not, it’s mental traps that trip us up. The post 4 Mental Traps That Kill Productivity appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Naming 137

Nir Eyal

NOVEMBER 24, 2022

Recently, after I gave a virtual presentation on my book Indistractable , a listener wrote something in the Zoom chat that drove me bonkers: “This is great but wouldn’t work for me. I’m a Gemini.” Insert face plant. The post Labeling Yourself is Keeping You Down, Do This Instead appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Presentation Books 102

Nir Eyal

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

Even the most productive person can’t have it all. At least, not all at once. You can search for the best productivity apps to make you more efficient and focused. You can implement productivity hacks and cut distractions. But you still might feel like there simply are not enough hours in the day for everything you need to get done. Something has to give.

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Strategy 120

Nir Eyal

OCTOBER 24, 2022

Subscriptions are hot (and not). Companies and investors love subscription business models since they generate recurring revenue that translates to predictable cash flow. The more money a company is likely to make in perpetuity, the higher its share price. The post 3 Reasons Why Subscription Businesses Fail appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Nir Eyal

OCTOBER 10, 2022

I once tried a digital detox. It failed miserably. When I realized I was distracted during quality time with my daughter, I blamed my smartphone and made some extreme changes. One might think, given all the bad press about so-called “smartphone addiction,” that using no technology would be the right cure. The post Skip the Digital Detox—Abstinence Won’t Work (But This Does) appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Technology 22

Nir Eyal

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

Manifesting is bull. There, I said it. According to Oprah, manifesting is bringing something tangible into your life through attraction and belief—i.e. if you think it, it will come. It encourages people to bring a goal to life by making vision boards, writing in manifestation journals, chanting positive affirmations, and speaking it into existence.

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Vision Positioning 24

Nir Eyal

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

Since writing Indistractable, I’m often asked what tools and apps I personally use to get the most out of my day. But after years of research into the psychology of productivity, focus, and the causes of distraction, I’ve learned that there is no one magic tool. Rather, the best tool is the one you’ll actually use,which is why I only rely on just a few to be at my best.

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Research Software Product Research 73