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How to protect your attention in a distracted world
A distracted mind isn’t your fault - but it is your responsibility.
Mario Peshev
May 21, 2025
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Welcome to The Smarter Brain, a curation of thought-provoking ideas and actionable reads to help you build better habits and become more productive.
Happy reading - See you on Sunday!
Cheers,
The Smarter Brain Team
Estimated Reading Time: 2 mins
3 Ideas for Better Habits
Do the Verb, Not the Noun
Artist and writer, Austin Kleon, on staying creative in everyday life.
"Let go of the thing that you’re trying to be (the noun), and focus on the actual work you need to be doing (the verb)."
Focus Shapes Reality
Artist and writer, Jenny Odell, on finding meaning through stillness, attention, and resistance to the attention economy.
"My experience is what I agree to attend to. Only those items which I notice shape my mind - without selective interest, experience is an utter chaos."
Focus with Purpose
Behavioral designer & author, Nir Eyal, on mastering attention in a world full of distractions.
“You can’t call something a distraction unless you know what it’s distracting you from.”
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Productivity Tools and Resources
Struggling to Get in the Zone or Drown Out Distractions?
Pair your daily start-and-end rituals with the right soundscape. Whether silence sharpens your focus or ambient buzz keeps you alert, understanding your noise preference is key to creating a productivity-friendly rhythm.
The Power of Intentional Rest
Working nonstop isn’t a badge of honor - it’s a recipe for burnout. Strategic breaks and recovery are essential to staying sharp. Whether it’s the 15-minute rule or prioritizing sleep, Nasir shows that real productivity starts with rest.
What We're Reading
The 3-2-1 Newsletter by James Clear delivers timeless wisdom and practical advice every Thursday. Each issue includes 3 short ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to inspire self-improvement, productivity, and clear thinking—all in under 5 minutes.
Brain Food
Today I Learned: There’s a species of jellyfish known as Turritopsis dohrnii that can revert to its juvenile form, potentially making it biologically immortal. (Source)
Science: Researches have detected microplastic particles in human brain tissue, raising concerns about the potential health impacts of plastic pollution. (Source)
Have a productive rest of your week,
The Smarter Brain Team
Resource Spotlight
The Illumina Genomics Podcast
Hear directly from the people whose work in genomics is shaping the way we think about science and our world. Listen as leading scientists discuss the impact of genomics with the Illumina Scientific Affairs team.
Stay tuned with latest scientific research.
8 Practical Tips for Developing Discipline
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by missed deadlines and distractions, developing discipline might just be the remedy you need. It gives you the power to set clear goals, stick to routines, and create habits that keep you on track - without the constant stress of scrambling to catch up.
Curious to learn more? Discover 8 integral traits and practical tips that can help you build discipline and transform your daily routine.
The Best Leaders Are Always on the Hunt
For insights. For wisdom. Looking for ways to get better. Ways to make other people better. Daily Field Notes email is just the kind of jumpstart you need. A fast read. Maybe less than a minute. Because sometimes it just takes one insight to change the trajectory of the day.
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