Hyperfocus

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.

MIND YOUR ENVIRONMENT Look up and around you: Where are you reading this book? How likely are you to be distracted or interrupted as you read, and is there a place you could go to avoid those distractions? Or are you reading in an environment where you don’t have much control, such as on the train or the subway?

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.

GRAB A PEN OR HIGHLIGHTER There are two ways to consume information: passively and actively.

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.

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.

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.

Modifying your environment is one of the top ways to cultivate your focus.