Book SummaryThe Master Guides: Focus, by Shortform

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Master Guides: Focus

Do you often feel that there isn’t enough time to finish all the projects you’d like to get done? Does it seem that when you try to concentrate on a task, your attention gets pulled in a thousand directions? Do you often feel like there are so many things on your to-do list that you never have any energy left for the things that matter to you most? Rather than blame the outside world for chipping away at your energy and time, it may be more productive and fulfilling to improve your ability to focus.

Many authors have tackled this subject, from psychologists to productivity experts, business...

The Master Guides: Focus Summary What Is Focus?

In general, psychologists and productivity experts agree that “focus” is the ability to direct your attention to a single task and maintain it without distraction. In this opening section, we’ll look at:

• Different authors’ approaches to thinking about focus
• The benefits of improving your ability to focus
• Why focus is preferable to splitting your attention

How Experts Think About Focus

Concept #1: Focus is selective attention. In his book Focus, psychologist Daniel Goleman highlights two mental states, open awareness and selective attention. Open awareness is a state of fluid, passive attention where you’re not focusing on one specific task. Selective attention is a type of effortful focus you use to filter through the flood of sensory stimuli and narrow your attention to what is relevant. As the name suggests, selective attention helps your brain select what is relevant and choose where you direct your attention. Later in this guide, we’ll discuss ways to improve your selective attention.

**Concept #2: Focus...

The Master Guides: Focus Summary How to Focus and Avoid Distractions

Now that we’ve defined focus and distraction, how do you go about sharpening your focus and minimizing distractions?

Step 1: Make a Plan

The experts agree that the most essential step is to choose where to focus your attention. But with so many options, how do you decide what to focus on?

Tip #1: Select one priority per day. In Make Time, Knapp and Zeratsky suggest that the most important step to being proactive with your attention is to choose one task to focus on each day. This won’t be the only thing you do, but it’s the one thing you’ll prioritize over everything else. It might be a project you’ve been putting off at work, or it might be something you’ve always meant to do in your free time. Whatever you choose, it’s the thing you’ll look back on with a feeling of satisfaction, or even joy, at having accomplished. But be flexible. Where you focus your attention doesn’t need to be set in stone; you can change it at any point throughout the day.

Tip #2: List the steps for reaching your goal. Tracy says...

The Master Guides: Focus Summary Shortform Resources

For more on the psychology of focus, see the following Shortform guides:

• Focus, Daniel Goleman
• Deep Work, Cal Newport
• Hyperfocus, Chris Bailey
• Essentialism, Greg McKeown
• _[The Willpower...

Shortform Exercise: Start to Improve Your Focus

Authors on the subject of focus and attention agree that you should focus on one thing at a time, use your schedule to your advantage, and eliminate as many distractions as you can. Consider how you can apply these principles in your daily life.

What overarching project or ambition do you wish you could devote more time and energy to? Does it revolve around your career, your family, or a personal goal? How much time each day would you have to devote in order to achieve it?