Hyperfocus

First, there’s a finite limit to how many things we can focus on.

The second way that our attention is limited is that after focusing on something, we can hold only a small amount of information in our short-term memory.

but extracting the meaning of what you’re hearing is the best use of your focus.

Maintaining a distractions list as you read will capture the important things that float to the surface of your consciousness. Writing them down to make sure they don’t slip through the cracks will let you refocus on the task at hand.

Becoming aware of what you’re thinking about is one of the best practices for managing your attention. The more you notice what’s occupying your attentional space, the faster you can get back on track when your mind begins to wander, which it does a remarkable 47 percent of the time.

For now, though, when you do notice your focus fading, step back from this book for a few minutes to do something relatively mindless.

CONSUME SOME CAFFEINE BEFORE READING If it’s not too late in the day—caffeine takes eight to fourteen hours to metabolize out of your system—consider reading alongside a cup of coffee or tea.

While falling into autopilot mode can help us keep up the pace of work and life, attention is our most limited and constrained resource. The more we can manage our attention with intention, the more focused, productive, and creative we become. A

PUT YOUR PHONE OUT OF SIGHT When your mind is even slightly resisting a task, it will look for more novel things to focus on. Our smartphones are a great example—they provide an endless stream of bite-sized, delicious information for our brains to consume.