![]() But when you learn how to deliberately manage your attention, you can focus more on Quadrant 3 and 4 tasks. (Shortform note: One marketing expert also suggests that you may automatically react to things based on your personal associations with them.) So when you’re in autopilot mode, you naturally focus on less valuable tasks. You likely spend most of your time on Quadrant 1 and 2 tasks, which means you’re operating on autopilot mode: Instead of deliberately directing your attention, you react automatically to external triggers that pique your interest-especially if it’s new, potentially dangerous, or gratifying. Eisenhower, the Eisenhower matrix splits tasks into four quadrants based on their urgency and importance.) ![]() Originally developed by President Dwight D. (Shortform note: Bailey’s attention management matrix echoes a time management tool known as the Eisenhower matrix. These tasks are the very few tasks that help you fulfill your broader purpose in life-like diagnosing and treating patients if you’re a doctor. Quadrant 4 is tasks that are meaningful, which are both productive and enjoyable.Quadrant 3 contains tasks that are necessary, which are productive but enjoyable-like filling out medical charts if you’re a doctor.Quadrant 2 contains tasks that are distracting, which are enjoyable but unproductive-like distracting smartphone games.Quadrant 1 contains tasks that are unnecessary, which are tasks that are both unproductive and unenjoyable-like sorting your pen drawer.To create your attention management matrix, sort your tasks into four quadrants. To understand the current state of your attention, Bailey recommends that you first create an attention management matrix. In order to understand why you need to deliberately manage your attention, you must first discover how little time you spend deliberately directing your attention now and what you could accomplish if you did. ![]() Before You Hyperfocus: Understanding Where Your Attention Goes ![]() Throughout, we compare Bailey’s strategies to recommendations from other productivity experts and neuroscientists, noting where they differ and supplementing Bailey’s strategies as needed. Finally, we describe what intentional mind-wandering is, and how it can boost your rest and your creativity. Then, we share the five-step process of hyperfocus. In this guide, we first discuss how to determine where your attention goes most often. And when you scatterfocus, you maximize your creativity. When you hyperfocus, you maximize your productivity. In Hyperfocus, Chris Bailey shares two main methods of deliberately managing your attention: hyperfocus and scatterfocus (intentional mind-wandering). In our guide, we compare these strategies to recommendations from neuroscientists and other productivity experts, supplementing Bailey’s ideas so that you can manage your attention in the most effective way possible. Productivity expert Chris Bailey explains why your current method of directing your attention isn’t working-like why you still feel tired no matter how many breaks you take-and then shares several strategies for managing your attention for better productivity and creativity. Here is a brief overview of Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey. But in Hyperfocus, Chris Bailey presents an alternate hypothesis: To focus in a world full of ever-increasing distractions, you must learn not just how to manage your time, but also how to manage your attention. Most of us assume that the secret to productivity lies, at least in part, in managing our time better. What is the secret to productivity? How can focusing on a single task at a time help you become more productive? Like this article? Sign up for a free trial here. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading. This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Hyperfocus" by Chris Bailey.
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