How To Stay Focused and Write Consistently in a Distracted World

We’re more distracted than ever—and for many of us, it’s affecting our ability to create. Here’s what worked when I felt stuck and overwhelmed.

The Problem With Modern Focus

• The myth of “just 15 minutes”

• Parenting, screen addiction, and pandemic aftershocks

• What “popcorn brain” is and why it matters

8 Small Shifts That Helped Me Write Again

• Handwriting instead of typing

• Ditching multitasking

• Replacing Instagram with Pinterest

• Talking instead of texting

• Reading slower-paced books

• Revisiting Cal Newport + digital detox books

• Creating before consuming

• Reassessing “time-saving” habits

JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR SLOWING DOWN

1. What’s one area of your life where you’re rushing?

2. What would it look like to slow it down?

3. When was the last time you felt fully focused on a task?

4. What allowed that to happen? What are your screen time triggers?

5. How can you interrupt the cycle? What distractions are stealing time from your creative life?

6. What kind of rest actually replenishes you?

FINAL THOUGHTS

Slowing down isn’t glamorous, but it works. And sometimes, it’s the only way to stay focused and write consistently.

👉 Want more posts like this? Join me on Substack where I share writing strategies, creativity tips, and honest reflections on living and working abroad.