Story of the Week
Why We Get Distracted (And Why It’s So Hard to Stick With One Thing)
There’s a reason it’s so tough to stay focused. Our brains are wired to seek novelty. Every new app, tool, or opportunity delivers a small dopamine hit — the same chemical that makes slot machines so addictive. Psychologists call this novelty bias, and it explains why the new thing always feels more exciting than the thing you’ve been working on for a while.
But here’s the catch: if you keep jumping from one thing to the next, you never give anything enough time to work. Instead, you end up with a bunch of half-finished projects and no real progress.
Three Things to Remember About Commitment
1. Commit to a Timeframe, Not Just a Task
In my book Lean Learning, I talk about the importance of giving yourself a real window to focus. That’s why our 30-Day Video Challenge isn’t just “try a couple videos and see what happens.” It’s 30 days of showing up, even when it gets boring, hard, or less exciting. You need enough time to move past the novelty and into the real learning.
2. Allow for Play, But Don’t Abandon Your Main Thing
It’s healthy to experiment and play with new ideas. The key is to set boundaries. If you want to try something new, schedule intentional “play time” for it, rather than letting it take over your main commitment. Your core focus deserves your best energy.
3. Assess, Don’t Abandon
At the end of your commitment window (like 30 days), that’s when you assess: Is this working? Do I want to persist or pivot? Don’t make that decision in the middle, when you’re tired or distracted. Give your commitment a fair shot before you decide.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
2026 will bring even more distractions, more shiny objects, and more reasons to jump ship. But the people who make real progress are the ones who stick with what they said they’d do — long enough to see results, learn, and grow.
If you’re in the 30-Day Video Challenge, or you’ve made any commitment for this year, this is your reminder: stick with it. Don’t let the next new thing pull you away before you’ve given your current thing a real chance.
Your Challenge
This week, recommit to your one thing. Write it down. Tell someone. Block time for it.
And when the urge to chase something new pops up, remind yourself: “I’ll assess after 30 days. For now, I’m sticking with what I said I’d do.”
Here’s to a year of real progress, not just new beginnings.
P.S. If you’ve been meaning to start short-form video and want some built-in accountability and support, join us for the 30-Day Video Challenge. We’ll help you stick with it, together.
