Protect Your Time and Habits From the Lizard Brain’s Distraction Tricks

Seth Godin, in the early years of building his solo business, never missed a day—weekday after weekday, he wrote from 6 AM to noon, without fail. The temptation to nap or wander to the fridge was always just around the corner, especially after a tough day. Yet, Seth realized that succumbing to these distractions only taught his lizard brain—a metaphor for the ancient, fear-driven part of the mind—that avoidance could be rewarded.

Over time, he crafted a simple rule: build your schedule up front so that you’re not constantly negotiating with yourself about whether it’s time to quit. The bestselling author Isaac Asimov did the same, typing consistently every day for decades. These routines protected them from the momentary persuasive pull of anxiety or rejection.

Research in behavioral psychology confirms that habits strengthen through repetition, not through motivation or willpower alone. When you treat your productive time with the same reverence as a doctor's appointment, your brain learns to expect discomfort and move through it, rather than search for the escape hatch.

Start by pinpointing your best window for high-value work, and lock it onto your calendar—no interruptions allowed. Make a promise to yourself that these hours are for work, not for checking emails or indulging in side distractions, no matter how tempting setbacks feel in the moment. When your brain starts nudging you to step away or invent reasons for a break, thank it for trying to keep you safe, and then keep going. Every time you stick to the schedule, you’re outsmarting your lizard brain—and building the consistency real progress demands.