Engineering for Focus: How to Build Products That Actually Boost Productivity

We live in an era where attention is under siege. Notifications compete for our focus, screens are designed to keep us scrolling, and productivity tools often become just more noise. As engineers, we have the power—and the responsibility—to design differently.

While building tools like TIKKUN, I've realized something simple: productivity isn't about adding more. It's about removing friction.

Here are three principles I follow when creating tech that helps people stay focused:

Design for clarity, not clutter

Simplicity isn't aesthetic—it's functional. Every extra feature, setting, or tap is a distraction. Strip it down to what matters.

Introduce intentional friction

Want users to stop doomscrolling? Don't just send reminders—build mechanisms that require mindful action. TIKKUN uses a physical tap to activate app blocking. That moment of pause makes all the difference.

Reduce cognitive overhead

Users don't need more dashboards or daily nags. They need tools that support deep work by staying silent, invisible, and intuitive.

Engineers don't just write code—we shape behavior. So let's build tools that respect people's time, energy, and attention.

In a world chasing engagement, let's design for meaning.