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Today the attention economy rules supreme. The size of the global attention economy is on the order of trillions of US dollars. Unfortunately, individuals are paying for the attention economy with their mental well-being. A constant flow of notifications, pop-ups, and endless scrolling on social media apps takes its mental toll leaving you feeling drained and exhausted.  

It doesn’t have to be like that. Focusing your intention on where you place your attention can make a meaningful change in understanding yourself and create more meaningful connections with those around you.  

“Everything you do, if not in a relaxed state will be done at a lesser level than you are proficient.” – Bruce Lee

Where to start

APA research agrees with my decades of Chief of Staff experience to help you work with your unique rhythms to get the most out of the workday. 

 1.      Balance meeting time to individual work time daily.  A reasonable balance between meetings and individual tasks replenishes essential mental capacity throughout the workday. 

2.      Balance the daily highs and lows. Recognize the benefits of pairing high-pressure meetings with low-pressure tasks, or vice versa, to help enhance workday energy. 

3.      Balance work time with break time. Recess isn’t just for elementary school children.  Even taking a short break (5-10 minutes) to walk around the block, call a friend, or sit and stare out the window has proven beneficial to creating positive energy.

Intentionally paying attention to yourself and your rhythms, and thus creating balance, can help you invest your time more purposefully.

Dive Deeper on the Attention Economy

The Harvard Crimson

United Nations Economist Network

Image by Thomas from Pixabay