Hyperfocus – Page 1

HYPERFOCUS
How To Be More Productive
in a World of Distraction
CHRIS BAILEY

CHRIS BAILEY is a productivity and performance expert. His first book The Productivity Project was translated into eleven
languages. In addition to his blog ([Link]), Chris Bailey has written articles which have been published in the
New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York magazine and Harvard Business Review. He is a graduate of Carleton
University.
The author's website is at: [Link].

ISBN 978-1-77544-952-2

[Link] is a lifetime learning company specializing in business smarts. We provide concise information and tools for
salespeople, business owners and managers and entrepreneurs to get ahead. Read less, do more. [Link]
 Hyperfocus – Page 1

MAIN IDEA
Hyperfocus is your brain's most productive mode. HYPERFOCUS 1
You enter the hyperfocus state by expanding one
task or project until it fills your attentional space to
the exclusion of all other competing thoughts. You
make a single task or project the sole focus of your What, exactly, is hyperfocus? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 2 - 3
attention. Hyperfocus is where you become so engrossed in your work you enter into a "flow" state
where you become ultra-productive. You get lots done because your entire mental
faculties are tightly centered on the singular task or project at hand. Hyperfocus is highly
energizing and even addictive because you accomplish an incredible amount in a short
period of time.
How to hyperfocus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 4 - 5
HYPERFOCUS 1
To be in hyperfocus mode, you have to learn how to get there and then how to stay there
for extended periods of time. These challenges call for two different approaches:

With so many things competing for your attention all HYPERFOCUS 1 HYPERFOCUS 1
the time, hyperfocus might feel like an elusive
luxury but the reality is you can enter this thinking 1 Choose a productive task 1 Stay distraction free
mode at any time. All you have to do is deliberately
and purposefully manage your attention and 2 Eliminate distractions 2 Simplify your environment
systematically eliminate any and all distractions. 3 Bring your focus to bear 3 Expand attentional space
Hyperfocus is incredibly energizing. When you
immerse your thoughts into what's most important, 4 Keep returning attention 4 Make hyperfocus a habit
you'll always feel more relaxed, more engaged and
much more productive. One hour of hyperfocus can ENTRY MAINTENANCE
generate more results than an eight hour work day
filled with distractions, interruptions and sidetracks.
"Hyperfocus means you’re less busy, because When should you do the opposite – scatterfocus? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6
you’re permitting fewer objects into your attentional
space. Picking which tasks to work on ahead of Hyperfocus is your brain's most productive mode but your most creative thoughts will
time lets you focus on what’s actually important in probably come when you're not focused on much at all. Scatterfocus is where you let your
the moment. This has never been more crucial than mind wander and see if that generates some interesting ideas. You give your mind time
in our knowledge-work environments, where not all and space to think expansively and creatively.
tasks are created equal. This is counterintuitive but How to scatterfocus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 7 - 8
absolutely essential advice: the more demands Scatterfocus can happen deliberately or as a result of doing nothing at all. To get into
made on your time, the more essential it becomes scatterfocus mode, there are a few things you can try:
to choose what—and how many—things you pay
attention to. You’re never too busy to hyperfocus."
– Chris Bailey 1 Recharge your attention

"It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with 2 Try and connect the dots
problems longer." SCATTERFOCUS
3 Cluster your dots
– Albert Einstein
4 Form a scatterfocus habit
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