How to focus on the right things and avoid distractions

To focus on the right things and avoid distractions of all types, you have to start with knowing yourself and your goals clearly.

• There are broadly 5 parts to life - Work, Family, Rest or Sleep, Fitness, Friends or Entertainment. Usually, you can do well in 3 areas at a time. For me, those areas are - Work, Family, and Rest most of the weeks. Anytime I go in the other two buckets, something from my core 3 gets sacrificed, and I have to adjust back.
• Every year I set 3-4 concrete goals for myself and write them down. I stick to these and measure progress every week. Some of these are long-term goals, but you want to start making progress, like learning a new skill or creating a new habit.

Now coming to day to day distractions -

• Assuming it is a normal day, plan a broad theme for the day. Apart from meetings on your calendar, have one or two big things you will accomplish.
• Be disciplined about meetings you take on your calendar and if you really need to be on them. 
• Be disciplined about the media you consume and what times of the day. If you can wander easily from article to article - time box yourself.
• Space can have an impact on focus. I like to have an uncluttered dedicated space. See what works for you. ?
• Simplify your personal life. I use outfits, dishes, services that I repeatedly enjoy to avoid distractions and decision fatigue.

Finally, if you wander off, take note of it and gently bring yourself back to what you should be focusing on. This is from the practice of meditation, and after all, life is meditation.