How I Stay Present on Substack Notes Without Getting Totally Distracted

How to be a good internet friend, without losing yourself in the process.

Substack Notes is my favorite corner of the internet right now. It’s full of smart, kind, curious, creative people who get it—and the kind of conversations that unfold there are just so delightful. But I know I’m not the only one who’s opened Notes with the best of intentions… and then looked up 47 minutes later wondering what just happened. 🙃

Yesterday, I was chatting with some folks in the Writers at Work Notes Boost chat, and someone asked what our different systems were for connecting with people here on Substack Notes. I put in my two cents—and someone asked me to turn it into a Note (see below). And it got me thinking about putting that info in a more permanent place than the fleeting Substack Note.

So today, I wanted to dive a little deeper into the system I use to show up with intention on a daily basis and keep my actual to-do list from falling apart.

This isn't about productivity for productivity's sake. If you know me, I abhor just checking off boxes for the hell of it. This is about staying grounded in community, building relationships, and being a good internet friend—without letting the scroll suck me in.

Here's how I make it work for my brain and my workflow:

💻 Step 1: Start with a boost link

I usually begin by clicking on one of the daily boost posts from folks like

Substack Writers at Work with Sarah Fay

or

Ryan Council

. These are packed with thoughtful Notes from all kinds of people, and they give me a curated jumping-off point that’s way more intentional than just opening the feed and starting to scroll.

Once I’m in the boost, I’ll right-click and open up about 10–12 of the linked Notes in new tabs. This gives me a little menu of conversations to dip into—and it keeps me from endlessly scrolling, because I’ve already picked my focus for this round.

⏳ Step 2: Set a 10-minute timer

I’m a big fan of working in small, focused bursts—especially for things that are important but easy to overdo. So I set a timer for 10 minutes on my Apple watch and go through the tabs, one by one. I read each Note and try to leave thoughtful, present replies wherever I feel moved to.

The goal here isn't to reply or restack every single one, but to be real and engaged in the conversations that light me up. I treat it like a mini snack break with internet friends. In fact—actual snacks do make it even better. These are my go-to right now.

⏱ Step 3: Back to work (for real)

When the timer goes off, I actually go back to my other work. Sometimes it’s a specific task I want to finish, sometimes it’s another 25-minute sprint (hello, Pomodoro people) or 90-minute focus block, or just making progress toward whatever deadline is coming up next.

The point is: I use Substack Notes as a pause, not a derailment.

🔁 Step 4: Wrap up and reconnect

Once I finish that work chunk, I’ll pop back over to my tabs (if I didn’t finish them) and either continue responding or catch up on any new interactions—replies to my replies, new comments on my own Notes, that kind of thing. And then maybe I’ll start another round with a new set of 5–6 Notes later in the day.

I’ll do this a couple times total throughout the day. That rhythm works really well for me—I get the connection I want, and the creative momentum I need.

🖥️ Bonus tip: Use a real computer

This one’s huge. Everything I just described? Way, way easier on a laptop or desktop than on the app. On my phone, replying takes forever, switching tabs is annoying, and I end up getting distracted and then doom-scrolling when I meant to be participating. On a computer, I can flow through my tabs, type faster (with better responses), and be done in a third of the time. I promise it makes a difference.

Community doesn’t have to mean always being on. For me, it’s about showing up with intention, staying present in the conversations I want to have, and then letting go when it’s time to get back to the rest of my life.

Notes is such a fab tool for connection, but like any tool, it works best when we use it on our own terms.

If you try this strategy—or you’ve been using one of your own that works—drop a Note or reply and let me know. I’d love to hear how you’re navigating this space and making it work for your creative life.

Yay internet friends! 🧡