There's a difference between distraction and disorientation.

Distracted is knowing what to do, but you're prioritizing something else.
Disoriented is when you can't figure out what actually matters.

Here's what most productivity advice gets wrong: It assumes you're distracted when you might actually be disoriented.

And you can't solve them the same way.

Why This Matters

Most leaders try to solve disorientation with distraction tools - better apps, time blocking, productivity systems. But you can't focus your way out of confusion.

What Distraction Actually Looks Like

When you're distracted, you have clarity but lack follow-through. You know what moves the needle, but you keep choosing what feels easier in the moment.

Distraction is a discipline issue. You know what success looks like—you just keep avoiding the work required to get there.

What Disorientation Actually Looks Like

When you're disoriented, you have energy but lack direction. You're ready to work hard, but every option feels equally important—or equally pointless.

You can't tell the difference between motion and progress. Everything feels like it should matter, but nothing feels like it actually does.

Why We Confuse Them

Here's the problem: Both look the same from the outside. In both cases, you're not doing your most important work.

But the solutions are completely different.

For distraction, you need boundaries, accountability, and environment design. Remove the tempting alternatives. Create friction around the wrong choices. Build better discipline.
For disorientation, you need to step back and get clear on what actually matters. You need direction, not discipline.

The tragedy is watching someone white-knuckle through productivity techniques when what they really need is 30 minutes to clarify their actual priorities.

The Test

Here's how to tell which problem you actually have:

Ask yourself: If someone removed every distraction from your environment and gave you four uninterrupted hours, would you know exactly what to work on?

If yes, you're distracted. Build better focus systems.

If no, you're disoriented. You need clarity before you need discipline.

Your Next Step

Stop trying to focus your way out of confusion.

If you're disoriented, the solution isn't another productivity app or time-blocking technique. The solution is getting clear on what you're actually trying to accomplish and why it matters.

Because you can't hit a target you've never defined. And you can't prioritize tasks until you're clear on which goals they're supposed to serve.

The good news? Once you know where you're going, the path forward becomes obvious.