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Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction
Canada's productivity expert returns with a totally fresh angle on how to do more with less.
Throughout his experiments and research, Chris Bailey came across many little-known insights into how we focus (a key element of productivity), including the surprising idea that focus isn't so much a state of heightened awareness (as we'd assume), but a balance between two frames of mind. The most recent neuroscientific research on attention reveals that our brain has two powerful modes that can be unlocked when we use our attention well: a focused mode (hyperfocus), which is the foundation for being highly productive, and a creative mode (scatterfocus), which enables us to connect ideas in novel ways. Hyperfocus helps readers unlock both, so they can concentrate more deeply, think more clearly, and work and live more deliberately. Diving deep into the science and theories about how and why we bring our attention to bear on life's big goals and everyday tasks, Chris Bailey takes his unique approach to productivity to the next level in Hyperfocus, while retaining the approachable voice and perspective that made him a fast favourite.
Throughout his experiments and research, Chris Bailey came across many little-known insights into how we focus (a key element of productivity), including the surprising idea that focus isn't so much a state of heightened awareness (as we'd assume), but a balance between two frames of mind. The most recent neuroscientific research on attention reveals that our brain has two powerful modes that can be unlocked when we use our attention well: a focused mode (hyperfocus), which is the foundation for being highly productive, and a creative mode (scatterfocus), which enables us to connect ideas in novel ways. Hyperfocus helps readers unlock both, so they can concentrate more deeply, think more clearly, and work and live more deliberately. Diving deep into the science and theories about how and why we bring our attention to bear on life's big goals and everyday tasks, Chris Bailey takes his unique approach to productivity to the next level in Hyperfocus, while retaining the approachable voice and perspective that made him a fast favourite.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2018
3,303 people are currently reading
25.9k people want to read
About the author
Chris Bailey
11 books511 followersChris Bailey is a productivity expert, and the international bestselling author of The Productivity Project, which has been published in eleven languages. His much-anticipated second book, Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction, comes out in September. Chris writes about productivity at Alifeofproductivity.com, and speaks to organizations around the globe on how they can become more productive, without hating the process.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,012 reviews
November 5, 2018
This was an enjoyable read with easy-to-implement strategies for setting yourself up for success on getting things done. I've started scheduling hyperfocus sessions into my week and prioritized items on my to-do list and feel much more on top of my workload! Here are my main takeaways:
1) Be aware of potential distractions – your brain is designed to pay attention to novel stimuli.
- Make a list of your distractions. Eliminate them to the best of your ability. (Remove notifications on your phone, clean up your surroundings, etc.)
- Try to work in spaces where you can control the distractions around you.
- Keeping distractions 20 seconds away (a walk to the next room) can be enough to prevent you from accessing them.
- Silence is best, but soft music that sounds familiar and is relatively simple is next best thing.
2) Consider the purpose of beverages.
- Caffeine provides a focus boost
- Alcohol lowers inhibitions, providing a creativity boost
3) Be mindful of your attention
- When you catch your mind wandering, take a brain break and do something mindless
- There are three measures of attention quality: 1) How much time we spend working with intention. 2) How long we can focus on one task. 3) How quickly we notice our thoughts have wandered.
- Mind wandering increases when stressed, bored, in a chaotic environment, distracted by personal concerns, questioning if we're working on the most productive or meaningful task, or we have unused attentional space
- Boredom = transitioning from a state of high stimulation to a lower one. As such, becoming accustomed to less stimulation can reduce that feeling of boredom.
4) Set goals for yourself, both daily and weekly
- You're being productive, as long as you're accomplishing a goal (whether it's watching season 1 of GOT or filing your taxes)
- Reward yourself after accomplishing your goals
5) Get things out of your head and onto paper
- Write to-dos and ideas down on paper asap so you can focus on whatever task you're working on
6) Hyperfocus is useful for accomplishing specific tasks
- Always set an intention
- Eliminate distractions
- Set a predetermined amount of time to focus (be realistic, start small)
- Schedule it into your week
- We're most vulnerable to distractions at the start of hyperfocus, when we resist it most.
7) Scatter focus is for synthesizing, brainstorming
- Intentionally let your mind wander
- Try this during habitual, enjoyable activities (going for a walk, washing dishes, etc.)
- Use it to replenish your mental energy
- A time to allow your brain to connect the dots of all the stimuli you've taken in
8) Ideas for changing habits to intentionally consume more valuable information
- Consume things you care about
- Eliminate some trash (not necessarily all)
- Choose a few valuable things to add
- Notice what you consume on autopilot mode
- Veg out intentionally
- Reevaluate what you're consuming as you're consuming it
- Consume challenging information outside of your expertise to encourage disparate dot connections
1) Be aware of potential distractions – your brain is designed to pay attention to novel stimuli.
- Make a list of your distractions. Eliminate them to the best of your ability. (Remove notifications on your phone, clean up your surroundings, etc.)
- Try to work in spaces where you can control the distractions around you.
- Keeping distractions 20 seconds away (a walk to the next room) can be enough to prevent you from accessing them.
- Silence is best, but soft music that sounds familiar and is relatively simple is next best thing.
2) Consider the purpose of beverages.
- Caffeine provides a focus boost
- Alcohol lowers inhibitions, providing a creativity boost
3) Be mindful of your attention
- When you catch your mind wandering, take a brain break and do something mindless
- There are three measures of attention quality: 1) How much time we spend working with intention. 2) How long we can focus on one task. 3) How quickly we notice our thoughts have wandered.
- Mind wandering increases when stressed, bored, in a chaotic environment, distracted by personal concerns, questioning if we're working on the most productive or meaningful task, or we have unused attentional space
- Boredom = transitioning from a state of high stimulation to a lower one. As such, becoming accustomed to less stimulation can reduce that feeling of boredom.
4) Set goals for yourself, both daily and weekly
- You're being productive, as long as you're accomplishing a goal (whether it's watching season 1 of GOT or filing your taxes)
- Reward yourself after accomplishing your goals
5) Get things out of your head and onto paper
- Write to-dos and ideas down on paper asap so you can focus on whatever task you're working on
6) Hyperfocus is useful for accomplishing specific tasks
- Always set an intention
- Eliminate distractions
- Set a predetermined amount of time to focus (be realistic, start small)
- Schedule it into your week
- We're most vulnerable to distractions at the start of hyperfocus, when we resist it most.
7) Scatter focus is for synthesizing, brainstorming
- Intentionally let your mind wander
- Try this during habitual, enjoyable activities (going for a walk, washing dishes, etc.)
- Use it to replenish your mental energy
- A time to allow your brain to connect the dots of all the stimuli you've taken in
8) Ideas for changing habits to intentionally consume more valuable information
- Consume things you care about
- Eliminate some trash (not necessarily all)
- Choose a few valuable things to add
- Notice what you consume on autopilot mode
- Veg out intentionally
- Reevaluate what you're consuming as you're consuming it
- Consume challenging information outside of your expertise to encourage disparate dot connections
January 6, 2019
This book introduces two important concepts of “Hyperfocus” (focusing on one thing with no distractions) and “Scatterfocus” (deliberately letting your mind roam free)
Focus matters because in todays world the competition for your attention is fierce.
Focus allows you to utilize your most valuable currency — your attention — in the ways you see fit, oppose to letting external forces dictate where you spend it.
Simple tactics to focus better include:
* Put your phone (and anything else) that could compete for your attention out of reach or in a different room
* Choose an environment where there are few things that could be competing with your attention (this is why planes and trains are often easier to work on as the alternatives you have are much less stimulating)
* Make a distraction list every time something comes up that shifts your focus away from your desired task
* Question if where you are about to spend your attention is the right place. Just because something “pitches” for your attention, doesn’t mean you need to consume it. You are what you pay attention to.
* Coffee helps! It provides a focus boost.
* [For reading] Grab a pen or highlighter and actually write in the book that you’re reading to actively consume the information
* Notice when your focus wavers. If it does, take a break doing a mindless task to recharge your attention.
There are four types of tasks:
* Necessary work - unattractive yet productive (we only do these when we have a deadline - e.g. filing expenses)
* Unnecessary work - unattractive and unproductive (typically we use these tasks to procrastinate)
* Distracting work - attractive and unproductive tasks (e.g. netflix, Instagram)
* Purposeful work - attractive and productive (these are the things you were put on the earth to do, they come to you much easier than to others)
Most information is organized in units no greater than 7 as anything more than that we find trouble storing in our brains
When we store more than 7, it ends up being broken into smaller groupings
Memorizing a credit card number is memorizing 4 segments of 4 numbers for example
Our attention space holds everything that you’re aware of in this current moment
If you are truly focused on, reading a book for example, you would have no capacity for anything else in your attention space
Mindfulness is noticing what your mind is full of.
“All thoughts want to be taken seriously but few warrant it.”
Simply noticing what is occupying our attentional space has been shown to make us more productive.
Habits require very little attentional space to perform. So you often can pair multiple habits together, or one habit with a simple task, but rarely can you pair a habit with a complex task - that task requires all the attention space you have to offer and you must do it solo.
Productivity is doing the right thing in each moment.
On average we work no more than 40 seconds before being distracted.
WHAT IS HYPERFOCUS?
One task that fills your entire attention space.
This is a task that’s probably at a comfortable level of difficulty (Atomic Habits says the optimal level is +4% the difficulty level that is within your current skill set)
It’s hard but not impossible.
It makes us completely immersed in our work and happier as a result of that.
HOW TO ENTER HYPERFOCUS?
1. Choose a meaningful object of attention
2. Eliminate as many external and internal distractions as you can
3. Focus on that chosen object of attention
4. Continue to bring your attention back to that object of attention
#1 - setting the intention, is the most important thing to start with
#3 - set a defined period of time that is reasonable so you have a clear start and end
#4 - draw your attention when your mind wanders
Other tactics
* Everyday pick three things to focus on
* Order items which are most consequential and do them first. Consider not only immediate consequences but second and third order consequences
* Set an hourly awareness chime and when it goes off ask yourself
* Was your mind wandering when the chime went off?
* Are you working on autopilot or something you intended to focus on
* Are you immersed in a productive task? If so how long have you been focusing on it?
* What is the most consequential thing you could be working on right now? Are you working on it?
* How full is your attentional space? Is it overflowing or do you have attention to spare?
* Are there distractions preventing you from hyper focusing on your work?
When setting an intention ensure it has when and where you’ll do it.
“Go to the gym” becomes “Schedule and go to the gym on my lunch break”
TACTICS ON HOW TO HYPERFOCUS?
* How long do you want to hyper focus for? Pick a time frame that’s easy (e.g. 15 minutes)
* Anticipate what may distract you and block time to hyper focus
* Set a timer for your start and end time
The tasks that you’re least excited to do are the ones that typically require the most hyperfocus on
WHAT IS SCATTERFOCUS?
Its your brains most creative mode. You activate it by deliberately letting your mind wander.
It helps you become more self-aware, process ideas and reflect on the meaning of your experiences
There are three styles of scatterfocus
1. Capture mode: Letting your mind roam freely and capturing whatever comes up
2. Problem-crunching mode: Holding a problem loosely in mind and letting your thoughts wander around it
3. Habitual mode: engaging in a simple task and capturing the ideas that arise (this is the most powerful mode)
Capture Mode = Sit with a blank notebook and see what comes up and write it down
Problem-Crunching mode = Hold a problem in your mind, when your mind wanders notice the distraction and pull your thoughts back to solving the problem
Habitual Mode = This is the most fun, and therefore expands your attentional space
Positive thinking doesn’t make you more happy - research shows its counter productive
Positive thinking lets us feel successful in the moment but at the price of not actually making a plan to be successful later
Focus on the system, not the end result.
Focus matters because in todays world the competition for your attention is fierce.
Focus allows you to utilize your most valuable currency — your attention — in the ways you see fit, oppose to letting external forces dictate where you spend it.
Simple tactics to focus better include:
* Put your phone (and anything else) that could compete for your attention out of reach or in a different room
* Choose an environment where there are few things that could be competing with your attention (this is why planes and trains are often easier to work on as the alternatives you have are much less stimulating)
* Make a distraction list every time something comes up that shifts your focus away from your desired task
* Question if where you are about to spend your attention is the right place. Just because something “pitches” for your attention, doesn’t mean you need to consume it. You are what you pay attention to.
* Coffee helps! It provides a focus boost.
* [For reading] Grab a pen or highlighter and actually write in the book that you’re reading to actively consume the information
* Notice when your focus wavers. If it does, take a break doing a mindless task to recharge your attention.
There are four types of tasks:
* Necessary work - unattractive yet productive (we only do these when we have a deadline - e.g. filing expenses)
* Unnecessary work - unattractive and unproductive (typically we use these tasks to procrastinate)
* Distracting work - attractive and unproductive tasks (e.g. netflix, Instagram)
* Purposeful work - attractive and productive (these are the things you were put on the earth to do, they come to you much easier than to others)
Most information is organized in units no greater than 7 as anything more than that we find trouble storing in our brains
When we store more than 7, it ends up being broken into smaller groupings
Memorizing a credit card number is memorizing 4 segments of 4 numbers for example
Our attention space holds everything that you’re aware of in this current moment
If you are truly focused on, reading a book for example, you would have no capacity for anything else in your attention space
Mindfulness is noticing what your mind is full of.
“All thoughts want to be taken seriously but few warrant it.”
Simply noticing what is occupying our attentional space has been shown to make us more productive.
Habits require very little attentional space to perform. So you often can pair multiple habits together, or one habit with a simple task, but rarely can you pair a habit with a complex task - that task requires all the attention space you have to offer and you must do it solo.
Productivity is doing the right thing in each moment.
On average we work no more than 40 seconds before being distracted.
WHAT IS HYPERFOCUS?
One task that fills your entire attention space.
This is a task that’s probably at a comfortable level of difficulty (Atomic Habits says the optimal level is +4% the difficulty level that is within your current skill set)
It’s hard but not impossible.
It makes us completely immersed in our work and happier as a result of that.
HOW TO ENTER HYPERFOCUS?
1. Choose a meaningful object of attention
2. Eliminate as many external and internal distractions as you can
3. Focus on that chosen object of attention
4. Continue to bring your attention back to that object of attention
#1 - setting the intention, is the most important thing to start with
#3 - set a defined period of time that is reasonable so you have a clear start and end
#4 - draw your attention when your mind wanders
Other tactics
* Everyday pick three things to focus on
* Order items which are most consequential and do them first. Consider not only immediate consequences but second and third order consequences
* Set an hourly awareness chime and when it goes off ask yourself
* Was your mind wandering when the chime went off?
* Are you working on autopilot or something you intended to focus on
* Are you immersed in a productive task? If so how long have you been focusing on it?
* What is the most consequential thing you could be working on right now? Are you working on it?
* How full is your attentional space? Is it overflowing or do you have attention to spare?
* Are there distractions preventing you from hyper focusing on your work?
When setting an intention ensure it has when and where you’ll do it.
“Go to the gym” becomes “Schedule and go to the gym on my lunch break”
TACTICS ON HOW TO HYPERFOCUS?
* How long do you want to hyper focus for? Pick a time frame that’s easy (e.g. 15 minutes)
* Anticipate what may distract you and block time to hyper focus
* Set a timer for your start and end time
The tasks that you’re least excited to do are the ones that typically require the most hyperfocus on
WHAT IS SCATTERFOCUS?
Its your brains most creative mode. You activate it by deliberately letting your mind wander.
It helps you become more self-aware, process ideas and reflect on the meaning of your experiences
There are three styles of scatterfocus
1. Capture mode: Letting your mind roam freely and capturing whatever comes up
2. Problem-crunching mode: Holding a problem loosely in mind and letting your thoughts wander around it
3. Habitual mode: engaging in a simple task and capturing the ideas that arise (this is the most powerful mode)
Capture Mode = Sit with a blank notebook and see what comes up and write it down
Problem-Crunching mode = Hold a problem in your mind, when your mind wanders notice the distraction and pull your thoughts back to solving the problem
Habitual Mode = This is the most fun, and therefore expands your attentional space
Positive thinking doesn’t make you more happy - research shows its counter productive
Positive thinking lets us feel successful in the moment but at the price of not actually making a plan to be successful later
Focus on the system, not the end result.
February 28, 2023
I think if you work in an office this would be the perfect book for you. He focused so much on emails and meetings that don't interest me at all. I wish he would cover more life aspects, like talking to people, for example. Still, he said interesting things that were useful to me.
July 17, 2019
Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey caught my attention because it spoke to me a student with ADHD. I now wish I left the book at the store. Let me tell you why...
The book is based on a bunch of researches. Most of them aren't explained properly and are just statistics out of context. The actual research is never explained and the headlines of the researches are used as anecdotes. The write up between them is horrible.
Bailey constantly showboats his ability to write a lot of words in small periods of time because of the use of his methods. I can't argue with this, because I don't know the speed at which the book was written.
But in my opinion, it's all about quality and not about quantity. And the book absolutely lacks it.
Chapters aren't exclusive and sentences are often repeated. Sometimes even whole parts and anecdotes are repeated. And even the repeated parts ain't worth repeating. Sentences aren't straight forward. Bailey turns simple tips into 4 page ones, without adding value.
When some tips offer real value and are good, they are lost in a sea of unnecessary cheap talk. Other tips are just plain stupid or don't apply to most of us. Tips like, 'Hit the gym or the sleeping room at your work'. I don't see most companies offering a sleeping room in their building.
Tips like 'Put your phone away and unplug your lan cable.' aren't that great working in sales or IT and tips about how meetings are setup and who should be present aren't applied to most of us, because guess what Mr Bailey... Most of us aren't writers and can't get these privileges but listen to their boss.
This is the real pain point of the book. The book is written from a bunch of random researches, patched together by some very personal perspectives. Everything is written from a single perspective. Its written by, and for, people like Bailey. And it seems Bailey loves to hear himself talking. Its all about how he likes a cup of coffee, how he loves this coffee place, his meditation and Ed Sheeran.
For me this book is a definite no go. I read it completely and at the end of the book it said "Invest your time wisely." and I felt like I hadn't been doing the same. I wouldn't advise anyone to buy it and I wouldn't even advise you to torrent it. The actual value of this book was to me practically non existent. The few good tips in the book don't weigh up against the nonsense the book is patched together with.
The book is based on a bunch of researches. Most of them aren't explained properly and are just statistics out of context. The actual research is never explained and the headlines of the researches are used as anecdotes. The write up between them is horrible.
Bailey constantly showboats his ability to write a lot of words in small periods of time because of the use of his methods. I can't argue with this, because I don't know the speed at which the book was written.
But in my opinion, it's all about quality and not about quantity. And the book absolutely lacks it.
Chapters aren't exclusive and sentences are often repeated. Sometimes even whole parts and anecdotes are repeated. And even the repeated parts ain't worth repeating. Sentences aren't straight forward. Bailey turns simple tips into 4 page ones, without adding value.
When some tips offer real value and are good, they are lost in a sea of unnecessary cheap talk. Other tips are just plain stupid or don't apply to most of us. Tips like, 'Hit the gym or the sleeping room at your work'. I don't see most companies offering a sleeping room in their building.
Tips like 'Put your phone away and unplug your lan cable.' aren't that great working in sales or IT and tips about how meetings are setup and who should be present aren't applied to most of us, because guess what Mr Bailey... Most of us aren't writers and can't get these privileges but listen to their boss.
This is the real pain point of the book. The book is written from a bunch of random researches, patched together by some very personal perspectives. Everything is written from a single perspective. Its written by, and for, people like Bailey. And it seems Bailey loves to hear himself talking. Its all about how he likes a cup of coffee, how he loves this coffee place, his meditation and Ed Sheeran.
For me this book is a definite no go. I read it completely and at the end of the book it said "Invest your time wisely." and I felt like I hadn't been doing the same. I wouldn't advise anyone to buy it and I wouldn't even advise you to torrent it. The actual value of this book was to me practically non existent. The few good tips in the book don't weigh up against the nonsense the book is patched together with.
February 25, 2022
In Hyperfocus, author Chris Bailey describes different types of attention and gives methods to improve the quality of your attention each day.
He suggests attention is a limited resource and, as such, you should take control of when, where, and to what you give your attention to.
Most of his advice on how to improve your focus was common sense: drink a cup of coffee, rid your environment of distractions, only check your email once an hour.
The brilliance of this book is his method of codifying attention. He compares two types of attention, hyperfocus and scatterfocus.
Hyperfocus is fairly self explanatory - you only focus on one thing and redirect your attention if it wanders.
Scatterfocus is the mode that most of us wander around in every day. But, Bailey says, you can harness this type of focus too.
Use this method of focusing when you're trying to be creative or looking for connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. It is the focus that sometimes hits in the shower, a ah-ha moment that changes the way you view reality.
I feel like there's no real way to control that type of focus, other than to be self aware while you're in it. However, I found Bailey's suggestion intriguing. Perhaps if I set aside time each day to consciously let my mind wander, I will have a different view on it.
I'm definitely game to give it a try.
He suggests attention is a limited resource and, as such, you should take control of when, where, and to what you give your attention to.
Most of his advice on how to improve your focus was common sense: drink a cup of coffee, rid your environment of distractions, only check your email once an hour.
The brilliance of this book is his method of codifying attention. He compares two types of attention, hyperfocus and scatterfocus.
Hyperfocus is fairly self explanatory - you only focus on one thing and redirect your attention if it wanders.
Scatterfocus is the mode that most of us wander around in every day. But, Bailey says, you can harness this type of focus too.
Use this method of focusing when you're trying to be creative or looking for connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. It is the focus that sometimes hits in the shower, a ah-ha moment that changes the way you view reality.
I feel like there's no real way to control that type of focus, other than to be self aware while you're in it. However, I found Bailey's suggestion intriguing. Perhaps if I set aside time each day to consciously let my mind wander, I will have a different view on it.
I'm definitely game to give it a try.
Read
November 30, 2023My mother has this principle with self help / management etc books that if you get one valuable insight out of it, it's worth while. On that basis, this book is definitely worth while, although it also means you have to read an entire book for content that would make a magazine article but hey ho. (Turn off the internet! There, that's a freebie for you.)
What's actuallly really interesting here is the emphasis on taking breaks, and on actively letting your mind wander as a creative strategy, and the best ways to do that. Definitely some good techniques here and frankly anything that makes you more mindful of how much time you waste on things you don't even enjoy (doomscrolling) has to be good.
What's actuallly really interesting here is the emphasis on taking breaks, and on actively letting your mind wander as a creative strategy, and the best ways to do that. Definitely some good techniques here and frankly anything that makes you more mindful of how much time you waste on things you don't even enjoy (doomscrolling) has to be good.
September 16, 2018
I like to read one of these books every now and again. This one helped me have a few really productive days and if I can remember the insights, hopefully I can have a few more until it's time to read another one of these. The basics are clear: you have to purposefully turn off distractions--emails, notifications of all kids, social media, etc. You have to sleep and you have to give yourself some time to just make connections in your free time instead of fighting boredom. The book was short and helpful, but mostly it's the same kind of productivity advice.
March 28, 2019
If you've read any book about being more successful in your career or packing more work into your day, you've already read this book. The gist: focus on one goal, and learn to do that one thing very, very well.
January 7, 2019
he describes his process as ordering 10-15 books on a topic and reading a lot of academic articles, and that is exactly how the book comes across.
January 8, 2024
دارم به همه کتاب ها سه میدم چرا؟:)))
واقعیتش اینه که یه سری راهکار های خوبی برای توجه کردن یا درست پخش کردن توجه داشت.
حالا برا یکی مثل من که پاتولوژیک مشکل عدم تمرکز دارم شاید همه شون جواب نده یا اصلا فرق کنه، ولی کلا چیزهای غلطی زیاد نمیگفت.
واقعیتش اینه که یه سری راهکار های خوبی برای توجه کردن یا درست پخش کردن توجه داشت.
حالا برا یکی مثل من که پاتولوژیک مشکل عدم تمرکز دارم شاید همه شون جواب نده یا اصلا فرق کنه، ولی کلا چیزهای غلطی زیاد نمیگفت.
April 24, 2024
مكتبة جرير وللغرابة ترجمت كتاب يستحق القراية فعلا
November 16, 2021
Did you know that if you pay attention to things then you’ll notice more?
Did you know that switching your phone off can remove distractions?
Did you know that if you want to focus you should concentrate and avoid being distracted?
If you need more stunningly obvious insights then read this book. Otherwise do anything else instead.
Did you know that switching your phone off can remove distractions?
Did you know that if you want to focus you should concentrate and avoid being distracted?
If you need more stunningly obvious insights then read this book. Otherwise do anything else instead.
September 6, 2018
My life will forever be split into "before Hyperfocus" and "after Hyperfocus". And I'm optimistic that the "after Hyperfocus" part will be infinitely more focused and creative than the “before” part was, thanks to this book. I felt like on every page, the author was speaking directly to me. All of the examples were incredibly relatable, and all of the solutions Bailey presented seemed intuitive and something I not only could do, but absolutely needed and wanted to do. I can already feel myself becoming more aware of what I’m dedicating my attention to. And I’m so much less averse to giving my attention a bit of a break (who knew I could go for a walk without music!? And that I would enjoy it!). Do yourself a favour, and give this book a read. You will not regret it.
Read
September 21, 2024DNF. This is my second book from the author. The topic is great but there wasn’t a lot of depth. I kept waiting for it to give me more than just surface-level thoughts on a topic but it just never did. At least not to my satisfaction. It may be good for someone just getting started, but I’m craving something with a little more substance.
November 14, 2018
Manage your sources of distraction. Meditate. Be deliberate in how you use your mental energy. Etc. Some good tips in there actually but nothing earth shattering. Maybe I'll report back after I've seen the results.
January 25, 2019
The book could be summarized in 20 pages, but the guy repeats over and over the same ideas.
You get a couple of good tips, it is the first book I read about this topic so for me it was interesting but the style of the author repeating himself it is tiring.
You get a couple of good tips, it is the first book I read about this topic so for me it was interesting but the style of the author repeating himself it is tiring.
May 22, 2021
"BECOMING MORE PRODUCTIVE ISN'T ABOUT TIME MANAGEMENT IT'S ABOUT ATTENTION MANAGEMENT."
Hyperfocus written by Chris Bailey is filled with amazing insights to manage our attention and focus.
Our attention is the most vital weapon which helps us to live a more meaningful life and work with a greater productivity, creativity and purpose.
Chris divides this book into two parts to give a detailed narration of his ideas:
1. Hyper focus, or focus on one thing.
2. Scatter focus, or focus on nothing particular.
Both Cal Newport the author of ‘Deep Work' and now Chris Bailey through his book 'Hyperfocus' brilliantly explained what is the importance of deep work or hyperfocus in the twenty first century.
Citing the importance of 'attention management' Chris try to give us amazing insights and practical advices to create a framework which will help us to become more focused in our arsenal and how to be more creative by managing our attention.
As I mentioned above, that the book divided into two sections. When the former gives the importance and methodology to get into a state of hyperfocus, latter introduces a new concept called scatter focus, which helps us to be more creative and energetic by making our mind wander deliberately.
I honestly found this book helpful to me and I will definitely try the ideas put forward by Chris.
I think readers of Cal Newport, James Clear and Brian Tracy will enjoy Hyperfocus written by Chris Bailey, that explores the fascinating research behind how to manage our most valuable asset, ie; 'our attention'.
Favourite Quote: “When we invest our limited attention intelligently and deliberately, we focus more deeply and think more clearly. This is an essential skill in today's world, when we are so often in distracting environments doing brain - heavy knowledge work" Chris Bailey - Hyper Focus.
Hyperfocus written by Chris Bailey is filled with amazing insights to manage our attention and focus.
Our attention is the most vital weapon which helps us to live a more meaningful life and work with a greater productivity, creativity and purpose.
Chris divides this book into two parts to give a detailed narration of his ideas:
1. Hyper focus, or focus on one thing.
2. Scatter focus, or focus on nothing particular.
Both Cal Newport the author of ‘Deep Work' and now Chris Bailey through his book 'Hyperfocus' brilliantly explained what is the importance of deep work or hyperfocus in the twenty first century.
Citing the importance of 'attention management' Chris try to give us amazing insights and practical advices to create a framework which will help us to become more focused in our arsenal and how to be more creative by managing our attention.
As I mentioned above, that the book divided into two sections. When the former gives the importance and methodology to get into a state of hyperfocus, latter introduces a new concept called scatter focus, which helps us to be more creative and energetic by making our mind wander deliberately.
I honestly found this book helpful to me and I will definitely try the ideas put forward by Chris.
I think readers of Cal Newport, James Clear and Brian Tracy will enjoy Hyperfocus written by Chris Bailey, that explores the fascinating research behind how to manage our most valuable asset, ie; 'our attention'.
Favourite Quote: “When we invest our limited attention intelligently and deliberately, we focus more deeply and think more clearly. This is an essential skill in today's world, when we are so often in distracting environments doing brain - heavy knowledge work" Chris Bailey - Hyper Focus.
January 23, 2022
With simple-to-follow instructions and tips, this (audio)book could not have come at a better timing for me.
*thesis period*
*thesis period*
December 17, 2019
This past year of grad school was my own personal hell, and in the intensely toxic culture of academia I internalized a lot of really horrible beliefs about productivity which resulted in a truly awful period of burnout once I finished. I am still unlearning a lot of things, and I wish I had read this book a lot sooner. It made me feel a lot more forgiving towards myself when I was feeling burnout, especially in how I was struggling to focus on things. This book clarified a lot that I had been thinking about throughout my time in grad school and afterwards, and is a wise guide to rethinking focus.
May 1, 2020
This was a book and half. I hated every word. It's a popular book, so maybe it's because I hate being lectured and told what to do. This was six and half hours of torture. The author droning on and on in a throwback to my mother during my teenage years. Pay attention, don't waste your time, even your leisure time can be useful, do something productive... The reading is horrible. He "acts" through each sentence. So "spending time doing something productive will make you happy" (upbeat with a laughing voice), and "wasting your time on unproductive tasks will make you sad" (depressed, sad voice) all in one sentence. I can't remember how I even chose this book. Has to be one of three reasons: my fat fingers, my blurry eyesight, or shopping on the edge of sleep.
November 18, 2019
I love the concept of this book. It helps me improve my focus. But for some reasons, I found that it is hard to focus when I read this book. Don't know why, perhaps I should apply knowledge obtained from this book while I was reading it.
August 9, 2020
I would give it more stars if I could!
This is book is extremely good in understanding your brain and hacking your way into improving its productivity. The author is more scientific in his approach and less like a motivational speaker! This makes the book even more interesting and engaging.
I have pages of notes made from this is book and I wish to follow these to the dot and confirm all the productivity claims made by the author.
More importantly the book presents better practical ways to recover from mental fatigue, which most other authors try to do the same thing with grandiose quotations.
Like most other self help books, reading them is only 10% of the task. Following them is the rest 90%.
This is book is extremely good in understanding your brain and hacking your way into improving its productivity. The author is more scientific in his approach and less like a motivational speaker! This makes the book even more interesting and engaging.
I have pages of notes made from this is book and I wish to follow these to the dot and confirm all the productivity claims made by the author.
More importantly the book presents better practical ways to recover from mental fatigue, which most other authors try to do the same thing with grandiose quotations.
Like most other self help books, reading them is only 10% of the task. Following them is the rest 90%.
May 16, 2022
Гиперфокус и Рассеянный фокус - два продуктивных состояния и как их достичь
July 16, 2021
A captivating book with thought provoking insights on attention management. This neuroscientific research acts as practical guide to decipher the power of productivity and creativity. It was a realistic read.
January 23, 2023
A little bloated and repetitive but a handy compilation of best practices and commonsense overall. It may have been more impactful in under 150 pages.
As another plus side, the author does a great job as a narrator. I enjoyed his delivery enough to follow up this book with How to Train Your Mind: Exploring the Productivity Benefits of Meditation.
Related to:
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
- Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
- Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
- Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention- and How to Think Deeply Again
As another plus side, the author does a great job as a narrator. I enjoyed his delivery enough to follow up this book with How to Train Your Mind: Exploring the Productivity Benefits of Meditation.
Related to:
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
- Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
- Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
- Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention- and How to Think Deeply Again
November 17, 2022
Libro inspirador, bien escrito y muy bien estructurado. Es, sin duda, uno de los mejores libros sobre productividad que he leído y creo que se tiene que leer múltiples veces para conseguir aplicar todo el conocimiento que hay en él. Lo he disfrutado mucho.
April 4, 2025
I really loved the other book I read by this author (How to Calm Your Mind), so I was excited to get started in Hyperfocus. There are some easy to implement strategies to increase your productivity, and also to redefine productivity so that you experience less of a guilty feeling if you have a bad day. This is an important thing to focus on, and something that resonates a lot with me. Productivity is not about cramming as much work as possible in a day, it's about setting realistic intentions, and completing those. As soon as you eliminate as much distractions as possible, you can enter into a flow state of working, which the author calls hyperfocus. The opposite can also be useful, which the author calls scatterfocus. Scatterfocus can be compared a bit to brainstorming, but more with the intention to let the mind wander.
This book repeats itself quite a lot, and is not completely novel. I do like the author's style of writing, it's easy to read. I am not completely sure how much I like the use of the term hyperfocus for this purpose, however. I have raging ADHD, and for people like me, hyperfocus can have a very negative effect. But that is not the main point of the book, so I will not dwell on it too much.
This book repeats itself quite a lot, and is not completely novel. I do like the author's style of writing, it's easy to read. I am not completely sure how much I like the use of the term hyperfocus for this purpose, however. I have raging ADHD, and for people like me, hyperfocus can have a very negative effect. But that is not the main point of the book, so I will not dwell on it too much.
November 6, 2019
Meta awareness - the new word that I discovered from this book and already added to my vocabulary for the confusion of several people. Chris Bailey is aggregating and reviewing productivity methods and tools (also in his book The Productivity Project). Since I have been reading high number of books on productivity and focus myself then it's difficult to find something completely new and novel but the book definitely acts as a focus-check for your daily unconscious productivity/focus inhibitors and the small tweaks that improve your focus and limit procrastination (i.e. disabling all sorts of notifications). The book is discussing both hyperfocus and scatterfocus and this is the first time I hear such term being used (I would also refer to serendipity here). So if you have been reading a lot of such books then it's an OK summary/reminder and if you have not yet then read this book.
Hyperfocus is the state when one task fills your entire attention space. A task that is hard but not impossible. A task that makes us completely immersed in our work and happier as a result of that.
Entering hyperfocus:
1. Choose a meaningful object of attention
2. Eliminate as many external and internal distractions as you can
3. Focus on that chosen object of attention
4. Continue to bring your attention back to that object of attention
Scatterfocus- brain's most creative mode, you activate it by deliberately letting your mind wander.
Three styles of scatterfocus:
1. Capture mode: Letting your mind roam freely and capturing whatever comes up
2. Problem-crunching mode: Holding a problem loosely in mind and letting your thoughts wander around it
3. Habitual mode: engaging in a simple task and capturing the ideas that arise (the most powerful mode). I'm doing this when cleaning the house, cutting the grass or working in the greenhouse/garden.
Tactics for improving focus:
* Put your phone (and anything else) that could compete for your attention out of reach or in a different room.
* Choose an environment where there are few things that could be competing with your attention (i.e. flying in a plane)
* Make a distraction list every time something comes up that shifts your focus away from your desired task
* Question if where you are about to spend your attention is the right place. Just because something “pitches” for your attention, doesn’t mean you need to consume it. You are what you pay attention to.
* Coffee helps! It provides a focus boost.
* Grab a pen or highlighter and actually write in the book that you’re reading to actively consume the information. I sometimes do this in addition to listening to audiobook and reading it in parallel.
* Notice when your focus wavers. If it does, take a break doing a mindless task to recharge your attention.
Four types of tasks:
* Necessary work - unattractive yet productive (we only do these when we have a deadline)
* Unnecessary work - unattractive and unproductive (typically we use these tasks to procrastinate)
* Distracting work - attractive and unproductive tasks (e.g. social networks)
* Purposeful work - attractive and productive
Most information is organized in units no greater than 7 as anything more than that we find trouble storing in our brains. When we store more than 7, it ends up being broken into smaller groupings: memorizing a credit card number is memorizing 4 segments of 4 numbers for example.
Hyperfocus is the state when one task fills your entire attention space. A task that is hard but not impossible. A task that makes us completely immersed in our work and happier as a result of that.
Entering hyperfocus:
1. Choose a meaningful object of attention
2. Eliminate as many external and internal distractions as you can
3. Focus on that chosen object of attention
4. Continue to bring your attention back to that object of attention
Scatterfocus- brain's most creative mode, you activate it by deliberately letting your mind wander.
Three styles of scatterfocus:
1. Capture mode: Letting your mind roam freely and capturing whatever comes up
2. Problem-crunching mode: Holding a problem loosely in mind and letting your thoughts wander around it
3. Habitual mode: engaging in a simple task and capturing the ideas that arise (the most powerful mode). I'm doing this when cleaning the house, cutting the grass or working in the greenhouse/garden.
Tactics for improving focus:
* Put your phone (and anything else) that could compete for your attention out of reach or in a different room.
* Choose an environment where there are few things that could be competing with your attention (i.e. flying in a plane)
* Make a distraction list every time something comes up that shifts your focus away from your desired task
* Question if where you are about to spend your attention is the right place. Just because something “pitches” for your attention, doesn’t mean you need to consume it. You are what you pay attention to.
* Coffee helps! It provides a focus boost.
* Grab a pen or highlighter and actually write in the book that you’re reading to actively consume the information. I sometimes do this in addition to listening to audiobook and reading it in parallel.
* Notice when your focus wavers. If it does, take a break doing a mindless task to recharge your attention.
Four types of tasks:
* Necessary work - unattractive yet productive (we only do these when we have a deadline)
* Unnecessary work - unattractive and unproductive (typically we use these tasks to procrastinate)
* Distracting work - attractive and unproductive tasks (e.g. social networks)
* Purposeful work - attractive and productive
Most information is organized in units no greater than 7 as anything more than that we find trouble storing in our brains. When we store more than 7, it ends up being broken into smaller groupings: memorizing a credit card number is memorizing 4 segments of 4 numbers for example.
December 28, 2023
Practical and easy to understand book on productivity. Was also a nice surprise as it includes not only hyperfocus techniques but also scatterfoccus on how to let your mind wander and assess your creative brain. I’m curious to put some of the techniques into practice. All advice is towards office/desk work so I wouldn’t recommend if you don’t have those types of jobs.
September 5, 2018
Can't get over how practical this book is. I had a vague sense of how distracted I am all the time - but Chris made me painfully aware of just how much attention I'm wasting every day. And then outlined exactly how I can better manage my attention. Everyone needs to read this book!
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