Where does your attention go?
With 2023 ahead of us, let’s turn toward getting more of what we want.
This is a perfect time to focus on how you can support yourself to get more of what you want and less of what you don’t want, so you can achieve your goals faster.
The terms you use to define what you want may differ. You might use: visions, key results, key predictive indicators, dreams, goals, objectives, resolutions, intentions…
Whatever term you use, they all have one thing in common – they require your attention to make them happen.
Your attention is a precious commodity that can be lured away if you’re not, well, paying attention to it. I invite you to be curious about your attention. Notice when you have control of it and when others control it, when you’re consciously choosing how to use it, and when you’re on auto-pilot and unconsciously giving it away. Turn on your attention-radar!
Get more familiar with your attention by asking yourself:
1. Where does my attention go during the work day? For example: emails, calendar, eating, exercising, urgent tasks, etc.
2. Where do I wish my attention went during the work day? For example: current goals, long-term direction, family, health, etc.
3. What distracts my attention? For example: emotions such as excitement (squirrel!), urgent tasks rather than important ones, email rabbit-hole, continual text-checking, etc.
4. What is one action I will take to reclaim control of my attention? For example: Read key current & long-term goals first thing on Friday morning, set an email-checking schedule, commit to an exercise routine, etc.
To answer question #4, consider this model from Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal:
Imagine a spectrum with “distraction” on one end and “traction” on the other.
Distraction: This pulls you like a magnet. It represents actions that move you away from what you really want.
Traction: This is like gears turning, moving you forward. It represents actions that move you toward what you really want.
Choose an action that will give you traction!
Is your attention top-of-mind now? I hope so.
