To be consistently productive and manage stress better, we must strengthen our skill in attention management.
Attention management is the practice of:
- controlling distractions
- being present in the moment
- finding flow
- maximizing focus
- being intentional instead of reactive
- recognizing when your attention is being stolen
- staying focused on the activities you choose.
Source: Ascend. January 2019. Link.
Our productivity suffers not just because we are distracted by outside interruptions, but also because our own brains, frazzled by today’s frantic workplaces, become a source of distraction in and of themselves.
Practicing attention management will not eliminate distractions from your day. But as you start to recognize when you become distracted then build your “attention muscle” habits you’ll start to reclaim your life and devote more of yourself to what’s really important to you.