Hey there —

In the productivity world we often fetishize focus.

📵 Turn off your phone.
🤳 Delete social media.
🗻 Go meditate in the mountains.

These are the only ways to get things done. Or are they?

While it’s true that turning off your phone is a good way to get back to work, it doesn’t capture the whole picture when it comes to productivity — especially for creators.

Recent studies have even found that staying laser-focused on a problem for hours can backfire, causing your brain to get stuck in a rut.

This phenomenon, known as cognitive fixation, is a classic barrier to creative thinking. Luckily, there’s a solution to this mental cul de sac.

Distraction.

Yup. It turns out that breaking up intense mental effort with (the right) distractions, can actually boost your chances of finding novel solutions to complex problems.

But not all distractions are created equally.We can classify distractions into two camps: positive distractions and negative distractions.

We often use negative distractions to avoid uncomfortable emotions, situations, or activities — like drinking at a house party when you don’t know anyone, scrolling Twitter to avoid a stressful deadline, or snacking so you don’t feel bored.

But we can use positive distractions to take a break when we’re feeling overwhelmed — like going for a walk, talking to a friend, taking a nap, or crushing that Wordle.

Research has even found that positive distractions are linked to increased performance and don’t interfere with productivity.

In other words, checking your email during an important meeting won’t help you generate creative ideas. But taking a long walk after being chained to your desk for two hours might spark a new idea.

So, how can you seek out more positive distractions in your life?

1. Replace negative distractions with positive ones. Make a list of your most common negative distractions and see if you can replace them with healthier alternatives. Instead of reaching for your phone when you’re overwhelmed, opt for a short walk, a 10-minute yoga sesh, or read a few pages of a book to get the dopamine hit you need to keep going.

2. Make room for healthy distractions. We’re not built for working in huge chunks of time. So don’t fight your biology. Take breaks and use positive distractions to recharge your batteries. And if you need some extra help making space, try a social media detox.

3. Distract yourself…with intention. Go ahead. Cut yourself a break and browse Instagram. Just try to be more intentional. Consider setting a time limit, or move the app off your phone’s home screen so it’s not the first thing you’re tempted to tap.

Focus on the things you need to do, but don’t beat yourself up when your mind wanders. Distractions can be healthy — if you use them as positive tools for rest, relaxation, and recharge.

Getting Stuff Done by Not Being Mean to Yourself

Article | by Susan Piver

Susan Piver spent a decade bullying herself to be more disciplined. She forced herself to journal, meditate, and have breakfast all before 9 AM.

“If I’m not vigilant about making myself do stuff, I won’t do anything.”

Turns out she couldn’t have been more wrong. See what happened when she let pleasure run the show instead of her rigid schedule.

Read the article →

The Secret Language of Trees

Video | by TED-Ed

If a tree falls in the forest, do the other trees talk about it?

According to Camille Defrenne and Suzanne Simard, apparently, they do. And it’s all thanks to vast root networks and symbiotic fungi, called mycorrhizae.

Using these underground networks, trees can share information (and even resources!). They can also tell who’s talking — like a sibling or a parent tree.

Explore the fascinating world of “tree language” in this animated 4-minute video.

Watch the video →

Written by Rochi Zalani

Edited by Matt D'Avella & Ashley Martin