Attention management is far better a tool for Productivity then time management. Although the concept of time management is not completly divorced from attention management. Both these concepts run parallel to eachother.
Have you ever blamed yourself for your poor skill of time management? It is the case with most of us. In truth, the very concept of 'time' is an autonomous construct, it is indefinite and hence difficult to manage.
Time - a loose concept!
Remember there are times when you meet your good old friend. You might end up chit-chatting the whole day but it feels like just 2 hours have passed. On the other hand waiting on a table in cafeteria on a table alone one minute feels like an hour. These experiences clearly tells us that concept of time is autonomous. It depends on mood, mental well-being. Our state of emotion paly a huge role.
Therefore, concept of time is not absolutely about managing time. For someone one hour might be enough to write a blog post for some it may take a day or two. It makes far more sense to stick to attention management.
What is attention management?
The practice of controlling your attention is attention management. Let's say you have to answer your emails. Block yourself with a timeline and put away all your intruptions. Now focus on your emails for the choosen time frame. If you get distracted for some reason kindly bring it back and do not leave till you finish your work.
This way you can block your time into many chunks through out the day. This dedicated amount of attention and energy will allow you focus on one work. Doing things in chunks will also provide you with gaps between two slots. This gap you can use to relax and recharge yourself again.
Research suggests small amount of refreshment will keep us from burningout. One can be more productive next time he sits for your work.
Why is attention management important?
Our focus is constantly shifting from one task to the other. Interest, mobile devices, all the apps in our phones are designed to seek your attention every second day in day out.
Your attention is their fuel. Constant notifications, beeps, rings pokes us to open their apps and keep using them. These costs us heavily with our time, attention and focus leaving us distracted, demoralised and least productive.
Task- switching reduces productivity!
Researches have time and again suggested that task-switching (multitasking) is a myth. Our brain is not designed to perform several tasks in one go. We cannot listen to Jazz music and also answer our emails and also write a blog post simultaneously.
When we keep switching between tasks our ability to focus hampers. Brain requires time to process the next task but by then we are already on the other one. This drops down our productivity severely.Moreover false illusion is created that we are working more.
Attention Management is a set of behaviours!
Practicing certain set is behaviours will definitely increase the Productivity level of not just an individual but the team as a whole.
Mindfulness: Politely bring back your attention whenever it goes away or you recognise that you are distracted.
Presence: remain present in the moment and focus on the given task.
Concentration: ignore all the beeps , rings, vibration that urges you to pick up your phone. Nothing is that important that cannot wait for you to finish your work.
Focus: one task at a time for a sufficient amount of time is the key to productivity. Chopping apple banana in one go with the same knife will ruine both the fruits.
Flow: for a certain period of time we get into flow state where naturally work happens through us with least amount of efforts. This state is desirable to shoot up our productivity.
Tips to improve attention management!
Break your tasks into smaller chunks
It is difficult to eat an elephant in one go. You have to start with one leg(piece) at a time. Likewise, one big task must be divided into attainable parts. Each part is your stooping point. Give your full attention to that one task at hand, set a timer.
Reform your old habits
We are habitual to our devices, smartphones around, T.V. , loud music while working. These distractions when eliminated can shoot up your attention span. We act as if our environment is not under our control which is not at all true. Put the 'Do Not Disturb ' board on , send strong signals to others that you should not be disturbed until it is very important. You can control your environment around you.
Practice till you master attention management
The more you practice the better you will get with your attention management formula. It is rightly said "practice makes a man perfect ". Practice of attention management will help you get into flow state easily.
Flow state
In this state you do not even remember the time, the space the condition you are in. Your work will take over you. This is called flow state where you become effortless. This comes with practice. This is the stage when human creativity is at its peak. Phenomenal things are often the result of this state only.
Attention management will help us enhance productivity. Time management is important but attention management is much suitable to the modern day lifestyle.
FAQs
Q1. What are the benefits of attention management?
And:The ability to focus makes us happier, more fulfilled, and more successful.
Q2. What are the four 4 types of attention?
Ans: There are four different types of attention—sustained, selective, alternating, and divided—and they each play a distinct and crucial role in our daily activities and cognitive processes.
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