Maintaining Focus in Open Office Environments

The silent productivity killer you've never heard of VSports app下载. Attention Residue (and 3 strategies to fight back): The concept of "attention residue" was first identified by University of Washington business professor Dr. Sophie Leroy in 2009. The idea is quite simple: There is a cognitive cost to shifting your attention from one task to another. When our attention is shifted, there is a "residue" that remains in the brain and impairs our cognitive performance on the new task. Put differently, you may think your attention has fully shifted to the next task, but your brain has a lag—it thinks otherwise. It's relatively easy to find examples of this effect in your own life: • You get on a call but are still thinking about the prior call. • An email pops up during meeting and derails your focus. • You check your phone during a lecture and can't refocus afterwards. There are two key points worth noting here: 1. The research indicates it doesn't seem to matter whether the task switch is "macro" (i. e. moving from one major task to the next) or "micro" (i. e. pausing one major task for a quick check on some minor task). 2. The challenge is even more pronounced in a remote/hybrid world, where we're free to roam the internet, have our chat apps open, and check our phones all while appearing to be focused in a Zoom meeting. With apologies to any self-proclaimed proficient multitaskers, the research is very clear: Every single time you call upon your brain to move away from one task and toward another, you are hurting its performance—your work quality and efficiency suffer. Author Cal Newport puts it well: "If, like most, you rarely go more than 10–15 minutes without a just check, you have effectively put yourself in a persistent state of self-imposed cognitive handicap. " Here are three strategies to manage attention residue and fight back: 1. Focus Work Blocks: Block time on your calendar for sprints of focused energy. Set a timer for a 45-90 minute window, close everything except the task at hand, and focus on one thing. It works wonders. 2. Take a Breather: Whenever possible, create open windows of 5-15 minutes between higher value tasks. Schedule 25-minute calls. Block those windows on your calendar. During them, take a walk or close your eyes and breathe. 3. Batch Processing: You still have to reply to messages and emails. Pick a few windows during the day when you will deeply focus on the task of processing and replying to these. Your response quality will go up from this batching, and they won't bleed into the rest of your day. Attention residue is a silent killer of your work quality and efficiency. Understanding it—and taking the steps to fight back—will have an immediate positive impact on your work and life. If you enjoyed this or learned something, share it with others and follow me Sahil Bloom for more in future. The beautiful visualization is by Roberto Ferraro.

"A quick call can turn into a long fall from productivity" Anyone who has ever been in the middle of a productive flow state and been interrupted by a "quick call" knows the feeling. One moment you're in the zone, cranking out work and feeling unstoppable. The next, you're on a call that could have been an email, and your momentum is completely gone. It takes time to recover from the context switch. This image captures the reality of context switching. In the expectation column, we see a straight line representing uninterrupted productivity VSports手机版. In the reality column, we see a sharp drop-off after the "quick call" interruption, followed by a slow and painful climb back to productivity. To minimize the cost of context switching: - Communicate expectations: Clearly outline your availability and preferences for communication. There are cases where jumping on a call is the right option and times when alternatives may be perfectly fine. This helps manage expectations and reduces unexpected interruptions. - Master the art of asynchronous communication: Opt for email or messaging for less urgent matters. This allows you to respond when it's convenient without disrupting your workflow. Especially when you can respond to an ask faster using text than alternatives, consider it. - Schedule focused work blocks: Dedicate (actually) uninterrupted time for deep work. Use tools or techniques like the Pomodoro Technique and switching off notifications to optimize these blocks. Use your best judgement for how often you need to check if you missed something important. By implementing these strategies, you can significantly reduce the impact of interruptions and reclaim your productivity. Illustrated by Ash Lamb who is always worth a follow #motivation #productivity #mindset .

Leaders waste more energy on divided focus than any other activity V体育ios版. I learned this the hard way in the SEAL Teams. During a training evolution, I was juggling radio communications, coordinating multiple teams, and making split-second calls. And I wasn’t doing any of it well. My commanding officer pulled me aside: "Mac, you're everywhere and nowhere. Focus or you'll miss the critical moment. " He was right. I was spread so thin I couldn't see the patterns emerging right in front of me. This isn't just a military problem. I see it daily with my executive clients: → Scanning emails during strategy discussions → Mentally rehearsing a presentation while their team shares crucial updates → Attention bouncing between five urgent problems, solving none completely The cost isn't just productivity. Your leadership presence evaporates. Your team's trust erodes. In high-performance environments, attention isn't just a resource. It's your competitive advantage. When you focus fully: → You notice micro-expressions that signal team tension → You spot connections between seemingly unrelated data points → You make decisions from clarity rather than reaction Most leaders know this. Few practice it consistently. The difference isn't knowledge, it's discipline. The solution isn't complicated: 1. Practice intentional monotasking. Whatever deserves your attention deserves your FULL attention. 2. Create attention boundaries. Block time for deep work with zero notifications. 3. Build a daily mindfulness practice. Even 5 minutes trains your focus muscle. 4. Batch-process inputs. Schedule specific times for email and updates rather than letting them hijack your entire day. In my 17+ years as a SEAL, the leaders I trusted most weren't just the smartest or toughest. They were the ones who could maintain complete presence amidst chaos. They showed up fully. Their attention wasn't divided. Their focus created a gravity that pulled teams together. What deserves your full attention today. ——— Follow me (Jon Macaskill ) for leadership insights, wellness tools, and real stories about humans being good humans. And feel free to repost if someone in your life needs to hear this. 📩 Subscribe to my newsletter here → https://lnkd. in/g9ZFxDJG You'll get FREE access to my 21-Day Mindfulness & Meditation Course with real, actionable strategies.

As a software engineer juggling ADHD and PTSD, I've had to get creative with my work habits. Here's a peek into the strategies that keep me productive. 👨💻🎧 🔊 Loud Music for Laser Focus Forget lo-fi — give me that high-energy beat to lock in my concentration and keep my mind from drifting. 🖥️ Single Screen, Singular Focus Despite the popularity of multi-monitor setups, a single screen minimizes distractions and maximizes my coding flow. 🚫 Strategic Meeting Minimization Meetings can be a significant flow disruptor V体育平台登录. I now schedule a dedicated four-hour block for uninterrupted coding, significantly boosting my output. 📴 Phone Coffin: Out of Sight, Out of Mind My phone goes into a literal coffin, and my watch gets docked. If it's urgent, Slack or Teams is the way to reach me. 🔕 Do Not Disturb: My Silent Ally DND mode is non-negotiable during my focused coding blocks to keep those pings and dings at bay. ⏲️ The Countdown Timer Technique A physical timer sets the boundary for my work sprints, helping me stay on track and reminding me when to take a break. 🤖 AI Tools: My Secret Sauce From scheduling with Motion to note-taking with Notion, AI tools help me stay organized and in the zone. And Copilot. It's my co-coding companion that lets me stay in my editor longer. These are my adjustments to keep me coding at my best. If you're navigating similar challenges or seeking focus-enhancing tips, I hope these insights inspire you. Stay productive, and keep coding. #CodingWithADHD #ProductivityHacks #SoftwareDevelopment #MentalHealthAwareness.

🔒 One practice transformed my entire career trajectory—and it might just save yours too. I used to wear "calendar availability" as a badge of honor. My schedule. Open to anyone. My focus. Fragmented by every meeting request and notification. The result. I was constantly busy but rarely productive. Everything changed when I implemented this non-negotiable: I stopped letting other people run my calendar. Three key insights from my journey: 1️⃣ Most workplace distractions aren't about willpower—they're systemic, built into our work culture and habits. The solution isn't trying harder; it's redesigning your environment V体育官网入口. 2️⃣ Time-blocking isn't selfish; it's strategic. By protecting space for deep work, I actually deliver more value to my team and organization. 3️⃣ The people who appear "always available" aren't necessarily the most productive or valuable. Often, they're the most distracted. This boundary-setting practice became so instrumental to my success that it formed a cornerstone of my book "Indistractable. " The research was clear: the most productive people aren't those who say yes to everything—they're those who fiercely protect their attention. What's your non-negotiable for staying focused and effective. Share below—I'm genuinely curious what's working for you. #𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆𝗛𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 #𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 #𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸.

Setting boundaries will get you more respect, not less. But only if you do it effectively: Saying yes all the time is NOT the key to success. In fact, it's a sure-fire way to:  ↳Get overloaded ↳Hurt your performance ↳Seem less valuable ↳Burn yourself out While many struggle to establish boundaries, And worry about what others will think if they do so, The reality is that those who set and communicate them effectively Actually increase their success AND reputation. Use this sheet to learn how: 1) Don't say: "I'll try to get to all of this" ↳Because: Puts all the pressure on you and avoids setting limits ↳Say instead: "I can't do all of this today - which part should I prioritize. " 2) Don't say: "I'm working but I'll keep an eye on messages" ↳Because: Undermines your focus and invites interruptions ↳Say instead: "I've set aside the morning for focused work - I'll check at noon" 3) Don't say: "I'm not sure I'm the best person for this" ↳Because: Opens the door for someone to push you to do it anyway ↳Say instead: "That's outside my lane, but here's someone who might be a better fit" 4) Don't say: "I don't want to disappoint you" ↳Because: Prioritizes their comfort over your needs ↳Say instead: "I know this may be disappointing, but I have to say no" 5) Don't say: "I'll try to squeeze it in last minute" ↳Because: Compromises your quality and adds stress ↳Say instead: "I work best with notice - I can't take this on at the last minute" 6) Don't say: "I'm free - take as long as you need" ↳Because: Time-drains easily expand when unstructured ↳Say instead: "I have 1 hour for this - let's address the key points" 7) Don't say: "Let me think about it" ↳Because: If the answer is no, just say so, instead of wasting everyone's time ↳Say instead: "I appreciate the ask, but I'm going to pass" 8) Don't say: "Maybe we can find a time. " ↳Because: Sounds cooperative but avoids a decision ↳Say instead: "I can't meet this week - does next Wednesday work. " 9) Don't say: "Just reach out anytime this weekend" ↳Because: Sets an always-available expectation ↳Say instead: "I unplug on weekends, but I'll respond Monday morning" 10) Don't say: "I guess I can do it" ↳Because: Implies reluctance, but still agrees, creating resentment ↳Say instead: "I'm not the right person for this, so I have to say no" 11) Don't say: "Let me know what you need" ↳Because: Opens the door to unlimited requests ↳Say instead: "I have one afternoon to devote to this, so let me know the priority" Setting boundaries isn't easy. But learning to keep control of your schedule, Instead of turning it over to others, Will let you serve them AND yourself much more effectively. Give these a try. Any others you'd add. --- ♻️ Repost to help your network set firmer boundaries V体育2025版. And follow me George Stern for more.

Coworkers keep tapping you on the shoulder VSports app下载. Drop this 2-word boundary. "Focus Block" But it only works if you back it up with systems: 1️⃣ Headphones are like my office door - AirPods Pro, Sony WH-1000XM5s, or a $20 pair of construction headphones whatever kills the background noise. - I loop the same lofi playlist so folks see the cans + hear zero talk = “Max is in the zone. ” 2️⃣ Zero notifications - Email, Slack, Teams, iMessage, Socials. All turned off. - Phone calls and teams calls are the only notifications that are enabled. - I also use the app "Laps" on iOS to handle blocking apps I don't want notifications from, and track my focus over time 3️⃣ Calendar armor - Focus Block #1 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM - Focus Block #2 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM - Catch-up window 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM (this is when I actually open inboxes/ IMs etc). - Status flips to Do Not Disturb so those “quick sync. ” invites auto-decline 4️⃣ The polite deferral If someone still taps me on the shoulder, I typically say: “I’m in a focus block, can you give me (insert however much time is remaining) and I’ll swing by. ” #deepfocus #productivity #softwareengineer.

I was diagnosed with ADD at 8 years old. I have 8 brain hacks that keep me highly-productive in office: 1. Noise-cancelling headphones ALWAYS (i. e. silence) I am highly sensitive to noise. If a pen drops, someone coughs, a coffee machine is turned on…you name it. I lose my train of thought and it breaks my laser focus. If I need to get something done, I NEED to have headphones on otherwise the task easily takes 40% longer (yes, I timed it lol). 2. Uninterrupted (no yapping) work time This is a follow-up to point # 1. I block my calendar so I can have silent headphone-only working time in order to get projects done. I am a yapper, I love to chat, and I can easily get pulled into a 100 different directions unless I have uninterrupted working time on the schedule. 3. Sit in the same place at the office When at the office, having a comfortable environment where I’m confronted with the SAME distractions every day helps me tune them out. Changing locations, changing desks means new noises, new people… you get it. 4. Sit around the most productive people This is the grown-up equivalent of sitting at the front of the classroom. Being around productivity helps improve my own. 5. Phone on “Do not disturb” ALWAYS I want to control when I look at my notifications, and keeping my phone on DND (unless for specific people like family, my partner) keeps me hyper-focused. Oftentimes I forget about my phone until I’m ready to take a break from whatever task I’m working on. 6. All major “to-dos” must be done before lunch Mornings = highly productive. I plan all of my absolute musts before lunch because it works in hyper speed before my first meal of the day. 7. Multiple screens Flipping through a million tabs = distractions. I need at LEAST two screens (at home I have 3) so I don’t have hundreds of tabs open, get overstimulated, then lose productivity. 8. Jewellery, rings, or something to keep in my hands I have a very rich inner world (🤣) and during long meetings, keeping my hands busy stops my mind from wondering. While also a fashion choice, having something to fidget with like my rings helps keep me locked in. I used to feel embarrassed about things like this, but my ADD and I are very good friends. Now that, over the course of (nearly) 31 years, I’ve learned how to manage it, I have turned in into a superpower VSports手机版. Because I had to compensate for other skills growing up, my emotional maturity skyrocketed at a very young age which has turned me into a great manager: ✨I’m a fantastic listener and communicator (i. e. how big sister was born). ✨ I am very comfortable with big feelings. Being different is a gift. What are some of your BEST productivity brain hacks.

“hi” What if I ended this post there and waited for you to reply to deliver my message? If this was Slack, would you reply "hello" and patiently wait while watching three blinking dots as a I type? Would you ignore it? 🔻 Either way, it kills async productivity. Don't force a synchronous conversation. Instead, put everything in a single message: 🔸 Say "hi" 🔸 Provide context 🔸 Ask a question or inform 🔸 Set expectations on time frame if urgent or not urgent For example: Hi! I hope all is well with you. I noticed that you've been sending simple "hi" messages on Slack. I have been ignoring these messages. Sometimes I might add a hand wave emoji, but I won't reply. It might seem rude to ignore a "hello" because it would be if we were talking in person. In person, saying "hi" without any additional context is completely fine. However, in an asynchronous work environment like ours, it's more effective if we provide context when initiating a conversation. This allows for more focused and efficient communication. When we receive a notification on Slack without much content, it interrupts whatever we're doing. Then we either wait for the next message, or switch back to our task and get interrupted again later. Both scenarios are less than ideal for productivity. Please don't hesitate to reach out with your questions or comments — that's what I'm here for. When you do, it would be great if you include some context and indicate the urgency in the initial message. If it's not urgent, I'll set a reminder to respond when I'm able to. This approach works well for me, and I encourage you to try it too. Thanks for understanding, and I believe this will help make our interactions more productive! There's no need to reply to this message unless you want to — just something to consider for future conversations. For more on this topic, you might find this link interesting: https://nohello.net/ P.S. This goes doubly for LinkedIn DMs