Focus & Attention

Evidence-based focus & attention practices.

20 concepts in this area — each broken into concrete practices with the real mechanism, an honest read on the evidence, and how to practice it with IX Coach.

• Attention Management, Made Practical — How does Maura Thomas’ attention management approach differ from time management?
• Attention Residue: Why Switching Tasks Costs More Than You Think — What is attention residue and how does it reduce your ability to focus?
• Attention Restoration in Nature — How does time in nature restore your attention and focus?
• Boredom and Creativity: Why Your Best Ideas Need Idle Time — Does boredom actually boost creativity, and how do you use it?
• Boredom Tolerance — Is boredom bad for you, and how do you tolerate or use it well?
• Context Switching Cost: Why Task Switching Wrecks Focus — What is context switching cost and how does it hurt productivity?
• Deliberate Rest — How does deliberate rest improve focus and creative output?
• Dopamine Detox, Honestly Explained — Does a dopamine detox work, and how do you actually do one?
• Flow Triggers, Made Practical — What triggers flow states, and how do you get into flow on demand?
• Focused vs Diffuse Thinking — What is diffuse thinking and how do you use it to learn and solve hard problems?
• Hyperfocus: Directing Intense Attention to What Matters Most — What is hyperfocus and how do you use it to boost productivity?
• Maker vs Manager Schedule — What is the maker vs manager schedule and how do you use it?
• Mind Wandering and the Default Mode Network — Is mind wandering harmful to focus, or can it be useful?
• Monotasking, Made Practical — What is monotasking and why is it better than multitasking?
• Notification Batching: Taking Back Control of Your Attention — Does turning off notifications actually improve focus and wellbeing?
• Task Batching: Grouping Similar Work to Cut Switching Costs — What is task batching and does grouping similar tasks actually improve productivity?
• The Attention Economy: Reclaiming Your Focus from Systems Designed to Capture It — What is the attention economy and how does it affect your ability to focus?
• The Science of Napping — How do you nap effectively to improve focus and performance?
• The Zeigarnik Effect: How Unfinished Tasks Occupy Your Mind — What is the Zeigarnik effect and how does it affect your focus and productivity?
• Ultradian Rhythms: Working with Your Brain’s Focus Cycles — What are ultradian rhythms and how do they affect focus and productivity?