Nir EyalSpeaker on Behavioral Science, NYT Bestselling Author, Former Stanford Lecturer

The real source of almost all of our distractions #shorts

Name: The real source of almost all of our distractions #shorts
Uploaded: 2025-01-03T13:00:46+00:00
Duration: 53 s
Channel: Nir Eyal
Description: Nir Eyal explains that approximately 90% of phone checks are driven by internal triggers—uncomfortable emotional states such as FOMO, boredom…

3 Jan 2025 · 1 min

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Nir Eyal explains that approximately 90% of phone checks are driven by internal triggers—uncomfortable emotional states such as FOMO, boredom, loneliness, fatigue, uncertainty, and anxiety—rather than external notifications. He argues the root problem is an inability to tolerate discomfort and that addressing this internal cause should come before applying life-hacks or phone settings.

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10% of the time that you check your phone, is it because of a ping, ding, or ring? The other 90% of the time that we check our phone, studies have found, is because of an internal trigger. What is an internal trigger? An internal trigger is an uncomfortable emotional state. You said it. Fomo. What's fomo? Fear of missing out. Fear is an uncomfortable emotional state. We don't like that sensation. And so the root cause of this problem, at least 90% of the problem, it's not about what's happening outside of us, it's about what's happening in inside of us. It's boredom, it's loneliness, it's fatigue, it's uncertainty, it's anxiety. And it's not your fault. You didn't invent these devices. You didn't invent this stuff. You're not Mark Zuckerberg. But it is your responsibility. So step number one to becoming indistractable before you mess with your phone, before you figure out the settings, before that stuff has a place. But if you jump to the life hacks and the tips and the tricks, you won't solve the root cause of the problem. The root cause of the problem is an inability to deal with discomfort.