Protect your focus from the internet

The ability to focus is easily the single most important skill for getting things done.

The internet is home to the biggest enemies of focus. Websites and apps, which some of our best designers, engineers, and scientists have optimized for one singular purpose: Grab your attention—your focus—and keep it for as long as possible. Think of a world full of apex predators and terminator robots, doing everything they can to hunt you down and catch you. Sounds scary because it is scary. For your focus, that is.

So should we just avoid the internet altogether?

Unfortunately, that world also holds a massive amount of tools, information, and other kinds of valuable assets for us that we can’t really get anywhere else—at a similar scale, at least—so full abstinence isn’t necessarily a good option either. Instead, the solution is to respect the dangers, use the internet with intent, only when necessary.

Below are some basic principles and tips on how to increase your likelihood of getting in and out safely (with what you were looking for), avoiding getting caught by the dangers of the internet.

Plan before entering.

This is the most fundamental piece of advice. You wouldn’t want to escape your safe zone and then try to figure out your plan while being chased and hunted. It’s not any different in reality: Don’t open your laptop, phone, or browser until you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Build and clarify your intent. Otherwise, you’ll default to whatever app or site is the most dopamine-friendly (YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc.), and you’ll get caught by the baddies.

Build defenses.

There are many tools that can help you defend yourself. Perhaps none more effective than website or app blockers. These allow you to block any known threats (like the couple mentioned earlier) by putting them on a blacklist. Some blockers even allow you to go further and block everything but the selected sites or apps you’ve whitelisted. (There’s an abundance of free and paid options. I’ve been using the free version of Cold Turkey Blocker.)

Blockers work perfectly as long as you can resist your urge to remove the shields and take a peek. There also lies the twist: you don’t only have to defend against them, but also yourself. The only weapons you have against yourself are discipline (effective but limited resource) and self-imposed limitations (blocks you can’t deactivate yourself). They might not be the most appealing options, but they are the last line of defense.

Get in and out quickly.

The longer you stay in the danger zone, the bigger your risk of getting caught. Once you’ve done what you want or found what you’re looking for, pack your loot and get out of there. Close the browser—or even better, the internet connection—and start (or continue) working on your most important tasks. Write that article, solve that problem, or create that thing you really want to create.

Congratulations! You’ve survived the internet. (This time)

You’re safe. (For now)

But the dangers are still there, waiting, growing in numbers.

And you know you’ll have to go back there.

Respect the dangers, go in with intent, and leave as soon as you’re done.