What work would you do if you could really focus on it?

What’s it like being a human in 2025? I find that two of the big challenges relate to attention and intention. On the one hand, we are living at a time when there is so much competing for our attention. We’re inundated with information, distracted, and unable to focus. On the other, all the busyness results in activity without the accompanying meaning behind it. Many of us are looking to slow down, live with greater intention, and reclaim focus. But how?

As it happens, this topic has been central to the discussions in the CliffsNotes Book Club over the past two months. In October, our book was Slow Productivity by Cal Newport. In last month’s blog, I shared highlights from that discussion, with emphasis on how to influence workplace culture to allow for more thoughtful, intentional action—and less frenetic busyness and multitasking.

In November, our book was Stolen Focus by Johann Hari. Hari talks about how our attention spans have atrophied—to the point where we are at the limit of what he calls our “attention resources.” The advent of smart phones, e-readers, alerts/notifications, and our modern busyness has rewired our brains. Our attention has in effect been “stolen” by apps, social media, and digital platforms that are carefully designed to do just that.
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As a result, many of us struggle to focus and are ready to make changes to regain our ability to stay on a task and do deep work. I thought I’d share key points from that insightful discussion.

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Stolen Focus – Key Points

Here are some of my key takeaways from our discussion on stolen focus.

• Interruptions: When you are interrupted, it takes 23 minutes to get back to focus. Hari outlines a plan to retrain your focus by working on a single task for 10 minutes, then taking a rest for just 10 seconds, then shifting back to the task. This helps build discipline over time. He suggests using a simple timer to help build the muscle memory.
• Digital hygiene: Hari calls for digital hygiene, to include the following:
  • Limiting social media and stopping the infinite scroll.
  • Long-form reading, and reading paper books not screens/e-readers.
  • Device-free thinking walks.
  • Batching notifications to avoid the pings and constant interruptions.
  • A focus-friendly work culture.
  • Protecting your sleep, curating your diet, and getting exercise.
  • Making time for play and creativity, to include daydreaming and exploration.
• Entering a ‘flow’ state: Hari references the concept of ‘flow,’ based on the research of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, or those moments when we are so deeply engaged in a task that we lose track of time. He urges us to take steps to regain focus in order to allow for more time spent in a ‘flow’ state.

​The bottom line for me is that the damage that’s been done can be undone, if we take steps to rework our habits. I also think the reward for trying is great. What work would you tackle if you could really focus on it?