Mental Models for Focus: Kill Distraction, Keep Momentum

Every day you wake up with 10 tabs open in your brain.

A new idea. A tweet to write. A tool to try. A sales page to tweak.
And somehow… the day ends without real progress.

Focus isn’t about doing more.
It’s about thinking better.

Here are the mental models that help solo founders cut through distraction and keep moving forward—without burning out.

1. Attention Residue

“Task switching leaves mental leftovers.”

The trap:
You think you’re multitasking.
Really, you’re context-switching—and leaking momentum with every jump.

Switching tasks midstream creates “residue” in your brain. Even after you stop working on Task A, part of your focus stays stuck there when you move to Task B.

The result?
You feel busy. But everything moves slower. And nothing feels done.

Use this model to:

• Block similar tasks together (batching)
• Kill passive context switches (notifications, Slack, email tabs)
• Create “focus hours” with one clear objective

2. The 80/20 Rule

“80% of results come from 20% of inputs.”

Most solo founders do too much.
Or worse—focus on everything equally.

The 80/20 Rule helps you narrow your attention to the tasks, offers, customers, or actions that actually move the needle.

Ask yourself:

• What are the 2–3 things that generate most of my momentum?
• What am I doing just because it feels “productive”?
• If I could only work 1 hour a day—what would I work on?

Try this:
At the end of the week, list every task you did.
Now star the ones that made a real impact. That’s your 20%.

3. Inversion

“Avoiding mistakes is as powerful as making moves.”

Instead of asking “How do I stay focused?”
Flip it.

Ask yourself:

• “What destroys my focus fastest?”
• “What does a distraction-filled day look like?”
• “How do I guarantee I waste the next 3 hours?”

Then… don’t do those things.

Try this:
Write down 3 things that usually kill your focus.
Now create systems, rules, or friction to avoid them (blockers, rituals, time limits).

4. Second-Order Thinking

“Think beyond the first move.”

Distractions often look productive at first.
But they don’t scale. They don’t compound. And they leave you more scattered tomorrow.

Second-order thinking helps you pause and ask:

“What happens after this decision?”

That tweet? Might feel productive.
But if it doesn’t tie into your offer, it’s just noise.
That redesign? Might feel urgent.
But is it delaying the real work of shipping?

Ask yourself:

• “If I say yes to this, what’s the downstream effect?”
• “Am I building momentum—or just movement?”

How to Use These Models Together

Here’s a simple weekly practice to stay sharp:

1. Inversion: What distractions do I need to avoid this week?
2. 80/20: What tasks created momentum last week? What didn’t?
3. Second-Order Thinking: Which new idea actually creates leverage?
4. Attention Residue: Where can I protect 2–3 deep work blocks?

Final Thought: Focus is a Filter, Not a Feeling

You don’t need more time.
You need fewer inputs—and better thinking.

Use these models to:

• Cut distractions before they happen
• Protect your creative energy
• Focus on what actually builds your business

You don’t have to do everything.
Just the right things—without interruption.