The Importance of Reducing Distractions

One key aspect of enhancing productivity is minimizing phone usage. When you have a task at hand but feel unmotivated, it becomes all too easy to distract yourself with your phone.

For example, I aim to become proficient in the field of AI, which involves reading technical material on machine learning and deep learning. My daily goal is to read ten pages. However, the complexity of these subjects often leads to frustration, causing me to procrastinate instead of progressing.

When tasks require intense focus but aren't enjoyable, your mind tends to resist. This resistance can lead to stress, which often results in reaching for your phone to check messages or mindlessly scroll through social media.

Let me illustrate this with a personal experience:

"One day, I set out to read a book on Web-Scraping. I began at 10:00 AM and managed to read six pages. On the seventh page, I lost interest and felt guilty for not meeting my goal of ten pages. To escape that pressure, I turned to YouTube, and before I knew it, five hours had passed."

This scenario exemplifies what I call "Unhealthy Procrastination." Once you engage in tasks that provide instant gratification, returning to productive work becomes extremely challenging, if not impossible.

The Solution: Healthy Procrastination

To combat this cycle of procrastination, I found a helpful approach:

1. Avoid Your Phone: Keep your phone out of reach while working or studying.
2. Embrace Boredom: Allow yourself to feel bored rather than seeking instant distractions.
3. Reflect on Your Work: Spend time thinking about the subject matter without the pressure to perform.

For instance, I acknowledge, "It's okay to struggle with this topic; I'm learning for the first time, and I will understand it eventually." By avoiding more stimulating activities, I can either remain bored or return to my work.

Let's revisit my earlier story using this strategy:

"After struggling with my reading, I chose to employ the Healthy Procrastination method. Instead of giving in to distractions, I paused to contemplate the material, lay down to clear my mind, and slowly sipped water while reflecting on my reading. After about fifty minutes, I felt ready to continue and successfully finished my ten pages."

Had I succumbed to the urge to check my phone, I would have lost valuable time and likely not completed my reading.

This is merely my experience; each person's struggle with procrastination may differ. Nonetheless, this strategy proves effective across various forms of procrastination.

In summary, the rule is straightforward: either engage in your work or do nothing until you're ready to return to it.