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Clear keeps his phone in another room until noon to avoid distractions

James Clear · How to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones | James Clear · Jan 1, 2026 · at 17:25

Author James Clear explains the tactical environmental adjustments he uses to protect deep work and avoid habitual phone checking.

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“Another little rule that I follow is I'd take my phone and I try to leave it in another room until lunch each day. So that just gives me from like nine to noon ish where I can work on my own agenda and not respond to everybody else's agenda.”

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