How to Focus on Your Work - 3 Lessons from "Hyperfocus"
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2024
- Three useful lessons from one of my favorite productivity authors.
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⏱ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction
01:12 - Meta-Awareness
03:36 - Hyperfocus and Scatterfocus
07:03 - Intention-Setting
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🖊 Quote of the week: “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand. Most people listen with the intent to reply.” - Stephen Covey
Brilliant vid bro
@Thomas Frank • Love your notes. They're so extensive I didn't finish them all and will have to go back to them. You've motivated me to buy the book because it seems to be one I want to go back to again and again. Too many productivity books are a rehash of what one's parents or teachers taught us. Thanks for sharing. 👍
Hey Thomas, I have a problem and I need your help @Thomas Frank
I’m a high school student in Egypt and I take 16 classes, all of which are obligatory, I’ve been having trouble studying some of them, simply for my lack of motivation and for my hate towards them, but my real problem is that I live with my grandmother because my mom died and my dad traveled and my grandma always has people coming in and out of the house, so I decided to flip my day and wake up at night, the problem is I’d wake up at around 9 pm and half the night would be wasted in random thoughts and then I would get like literally one thing done and go to sleep, schools are canceled and there’s no one to explain the concepts to me, I teach my self all the 16 subjects that I have and I’m supposed to take my final exams by the end of January, what I’m I supposed to do??!?
I used to be very productive when school first started but now I would hardly get anything done at all and this has been going on for weeks now
Hey Tom. Can you do a video about yearly themes from CGP Grey. I don't whether to use goals also in achieving success in my themes.
My summary of the book:
1. Decide on how long you want to focus. Try seeing how resistant you feel towards the task you want to accomplish, and if the task is difficult or unpleasant, try shrinking down the time you want to focus for until you find a balance in which you push yourself, but not too hard.
2. Anticipate obstacles ahead of time and deal with them before your hyperfocus session.
3. Set a timer on your phone to keep yourself committed
4. Notice when your mind has wandered or when you’ve gone distracted, and direct your attention back to the task at hand.
By the way, his 3 lessons are: meta-awareness of your attention, focus and diffuse mode, and (the crux) specify exactly what's the next thing you're going to do.
Sounds like the Pomodoro technique.
I have ADHD so I can hyper focus extremely easy when I like something but it is pretty much impossible when I don’t like something.
Try to focus everyday if you cant today just give up and try again tommorow. Coming from someone with adhd.
Something that works well for me is doing work for 50 min then a 10 min break repeat as many times as possible I totally get what you mean ultimately I found medication to be most helpful to me with no long term impacts and occasional side effects it is 100 percent worth it another thing that works is a counselor however having a counselor is expensive but the ones at school are free if you’re in school and they are always happy to help it’s their job after all
I'm a big fan of biofeedback for this stuff. I've my own focus trouble, and an ADD friend who told me about how he used to watch movies with a therapist - but here's the catch. He had an EEG on. When it detected he wasn't really watching the film anymore, the therapist would pause and ask him what had just happened, seemingly strengthening his ability to focus.
@Daniel Blue So true!!! That's our superpower if we know how to use it.
Congratulations.
One thing I'm going to really try to do is seperate my work space from my play space.
Good idea
100% I am the same way, that’s why I feel I am hella unproductive at times!
I really want to do that but I have only one workstation. And almost no physical room space. any suggestions ...anybody
*separate
I wish I could do that with my one single room flat ._.
I finished Hyperfocus the day after you uploaded this. My biggest takeaway, which was a surprise, was the concept of scatterfocus. I picked up the book because I've been having trouble focusing on meaningful tasks. I was looking for tips on how to improve my focus, and the book delivered on that. But it wasn't until I was reading the chapters on scatterfocus that I had a major epiphany into why I struggle with focus. Ever since smart phones, social media, and our "always plugged in" culture, I've taken to distracting myself during any down time and never give my mind a chance to rest. This constant stimulation means my brain never enters scatterfocus, which means it never recharges and it never has a chance to make creative connections and insights. This is the main reason why I struggle with focus.
I would like to investigate the concept of setting better intentions and am looking for recommended reading on this topic.
Realise your comment was 2 years ago and perhaps you’ve found it. But maybe try Nir Eyal’s ‘Indistractable’ ?
“We are what we pay attention to, and almost nothing influences our productivity and creativity as much as the information we’ve consumed in the past” - Chris Bailey
Pretty vague
I have problem to focus what he says, he speeks so fast and also the wirds he uses he speaks like a book.... to much informations.... I qwould focus more if he would say the same advice with less words... I am not surprised he speaks as book because he reads them.
Amazing quote
@@lolololololololol11 Nah, it's pretty useless
In Buddhism, this "meta-awarenes" is just called mindfulness - or aspects of it are - which makes it such a nice tool to improve focus!
Could you please suggest any books about Meta-awearness ?🙏
@@tonghsengsom From my perspective all books on mindfulness will do :D people typically start with "mindfulness in plain English", which you can find free online as a pdf
It actually stems from Hinduism but Buddha adopted it the best :)
@@amshurak6029 I did not want to make it sound like the Buddha "invented" mindfulness - he clearly did not ;D
@@TheDhammaHub In that case apologies :) I'm just too proud sometimes
1. Set a chime that rings for example every hour, and pause your task and ask “what am I doing, am I doing the task I need?”
2. There are different modes of your mind on scattered mode aka creative mode. First is capture mode: write down all the ideas and random junk in you head, review and see whether there’s anything worthwhile.
Or go into problem crunching mode,where you take one problem out and try your best to beat this one problem up until you have a solution.
Habitual mode is when you’re just doing the dishes or on a walk, combine this with capture mode like recording your thoughts that came to you on a walk in your phone.
3. Intentionality, you need to care about the task. Write down exactly the specific actions you’re going to take eg, I’m gonna do 10 squats at the gym, instead of just I’m going to the gym
Focus might be one of the most important skills we develop in 2021. We need it to push back against the tidal wave of distractions.
Thank you Thomas for the sleeve joke. It was the first thing that made me smile today, really needed it. Big hug from Budapest,Hungary.
Okay the shot 3ish minutes in that you were showing the editing screen that was matched up with your voice in the preview was CLEAN
Does he realize some of us procrastinating by watching his wonderful videos? ***nervous laughter***
@Silver Ren It's because it's sadly true, most people watching this are procrastinators.
he is here to help people who wanna be helped not like us who pretend to be helped & dont wanna help ourselves..😒
@@dustybun1810 at the end of the day we are at least trying...
sure..✌️ atleast we re in good surroundings, hopefully 'll be in action taking crew..
💯 precent agree with u
It's really impressive to see your filmmaking skills grow with each video. In the first few seconds, it already felt like I was about to start watching a high-quality Netflix documentary. Keep it up, you're doing great!
YOU GOT NO IDEA HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VIDEO.
Improving my focus has been top of mind for me lately! Thank you Universe and Thomas Frank for coming through 🤟
Let's take a sec to appreciate how YTers like you work hard to make well-produced and highly informative vids like this, and we just have to watch ads for it.
You got a like from Thomas Frank
Time limit and planning beforehand are things that really help me study, stay focussed but also finish on time 📚
Thanks Thomas!!!
Haven't watched in a bit, this video came at a perfect time.
Love seeing your channel progress, thanks!
Wow I really enjoyed this video! It came right in time for the new year, definitely going to be implementing some of these ideas in my life. Thanks Thomas!
First of all, I love this haircut the most!
Second, this is the exact video I needed to refocus my mind and set goals on how to get where I really wanna go in 2021
You are the best. Thank you!
This really resonates with what I'm doing right now. Happy new year every one. Blessings and Peace!
Just found you this week and have already devoured so much. You are really helping me figure out what I want and how to get. Thank you for your hard work and perspective!
1. What's the one thing you like most about the personal development niche?
2. What kind of videos would you like to see more on UA-cam?
I'm doing a bit of research and I'd appreciate your help.
Thank you so much.
Great mindfulness techniques employed here! Part of my scatter focus time includes going for a walk or simply putting on relaxed music (no beats) to give the mind some blank space. Often, it’s in this time that some insights come to the surface, especially if it’s after a period of hyper focus. Thanks for this, Thomas!
Well put! Long, contemplative walks seem to work for me too
Thank you Thomas. I really needed the course to better outline my productivity methods
As always, very thoughtful and useful material. Thank you Thomas.
Always enjoy your explanation and ability to analyze books!!! Keep up the awesome work Thomas 😁
Thomas, your videos are so good and encouraging. Always with something new and productive. One of the few UA-camrs whose videos really inspire people and get them working. Love you❤️ bless you❤️🔥
Thank you Thomas! I really appreciate this video!
Not the first but close!!
Great content as usual. What I needed to see.
Thanks Thomas! your content is great
YESS finally! I was praying one of the UA-camrs I was subbed to would pick up and comment on this book, and my favourite UA-camr does🙌, thanks a ton Thomas!😄
1. What's the one thing you like most about the personal development niche?
2. What kind of videos would you like to see more on UA-cam?
I'm doing a bit of research and I'd appreciate your help.
Thank you so much!
I love your videos, super informative
Excellent video, very helpful and educational.
Looking forward to the future notes of the book
The editing was amazing! It occurred to me that the concept of meta-awareness is somewhat similar to mindfulness meditation where you focus on your breathing, your presence and your surroundings and whenever you feel your mind drifting away, you gently bring your awareness back. Great video, looking forward to more. Cheers!
2:57
Great take on productivity! I think it's also important to have mental clarity in order to be productive, because it allows us to see our thoughts and ideas more clearly and we can organize them better. Did a video on that just now! :)
Thank you for this amazing video, liked and subscribed 👍
I tend to procrastinate on watching your latest video for a few days and then I always regret not watching it right away :D
7:25 okay this one is something I needed. I've been setting very nonspecific goals. They do get specific when I actually start working, but before that its harder to get started working because I dont have any idea what im specifically going to do. I think from here on out after I finish working ill set out a reminder of exactly what i should specifically do next time so i can feel more confident in getting back to work.
Im watching one your video after a long time and im so glad i did that :) all the best for your future
i was so focused on this video , when he said "if you enjoyed the video subscribe" i was like its the end i was hoping more .
Thank you for this video. I didn't just enjoy it, I also learned too. Please keep on uploading vids like this.
1. What's the one thing you like most about the personal development niche?
2. What kind of videos would you like to see more on UA-cam?
I'm doing a bit of research and I'd appreciate your help.
Thank you very much. It's useful
I hope you read this. I was watching your vids since January 2021and even you were my virtual study buddy and I was super focused. Now I passed the board exams and became a Registered Radio Technologist. Now im still watching your vids cause you helped me a lot.
Top quality production right here
thanks man , i have an exam in a month and my mind was all over the place, this really helped
I love "capture mode!" I find that ideas come during walks or exercise sessions.
Quality content as always :D
The editing on this is top notch!!
Glad I’m not the only one appreciating that😂
@@intentionalliving7326 WILL ALLAH RETURN HIS CHILD TO THE BIG CHUNGUS??!!!
Great notes and breakdown.
You are really the best UA-camr UA-cam algorithm suggested
Like for real. Thank you 🙏
lol if only i was intentional with my mind wandering i’d be “scatter focused.” sounds like skipping breakfast and calling it fasting
i really wonder why breakfast is literally called "break fast"
@@ranonymous27 no way! you're kidding.
He's talking about what is actually a fairly known psychological concept: unconscious processing. While you're doing an activity you enjoy and doesn't require intense focus, your unconscious mind is actually working on creative problem-solving.
Funny how UA-cam notified me about this video while I was spacing out in the middle of studying. I see what you did there, universe.
Funny 😁😂
I was just thinking about how I could not focus on my work today. And then I saw this video on my notification list. Wow
I actually didn’t know I did this, but I use scatterfocus to start writing everyone of my video scripts. I start with a general idea and just jot down multiple notes about what I wanna talk about in that video.
Sooo… I was actively looking at another screen when he said “Yes I can see what you’re doing Derek.”
Made my heart jump cause that’s my name! 😂
Practical and useful info...Not easy to do but determined to work on it! 🙏🏼
We keep at it... its a practice indeed 🤗
Thanks Thomas
Nice! Will purchase this book
Hi Tom, I am curious about your new skillshare course, can't wait to see it.
This book is useful for everyone on the planet, except our own favorite motivational teacher Thomas Frank. He researches on such topics to such a level that he becomes a master of that subject, good enough for him to write a book on the subject. He already knew much of what the book by Chris Bailey mentions.
Mate really called me out while I was scrolling on Twitter while listening to this xD You got my attention! lol
😂😂🤗
When you have ADHD & hyperfocusing happens involuntarily & for really long long periods of time
And then you end hyperfocusing on the wrong thing to avoid working on your main project
@@arupmistry1378 it's the absolute worst
@VC Totally agreed! It can be a blessing though :)
the set-up though!
gonna make notes and read it everyday!
I am a you-tuber from China.. love your video vibe man.
So glad I watched this video, my mind wanders so much now I know it’s okay to let it wander I just have to kind of guide the wandering if that makes sense💯
Lmao i love these little clip of betterideas, 2 of my favorite character in the same universe
Hey Thomas, I am a master's student in physics and I really really love your videos. I always learn new things that help me a lot. Can you let me know a ratio of hyperfocus and scatterfocus that your would recommend to a science student?
LOL, I love that you were literally like, "I'm committing to fewer videos!"
One time I was hyperfocused on studying and I forgot to swallow a mouthfull of coffee for 20min
Yeah, I have ADHD :)
I think you completed a world record without even knowing it.
@ S&M B&K: That's hilarious! When we hyperfocus, nothing else around us seems to exist!
Thanks for your video it helped me a lot to concentrate in studying for my final exam
Have a nice day
wouldn't have an 'awareness chime' on my phone - soon as you pick it up you'll get distracted
Yes that's what I thought. My phone is in another room !
Me: How do I start focusing on my work?
UA-cam: Stop working and watch this video!
*Never ever give up guys, I am cheering for you!*
I find it funny because this is natural for someone with ADHD but usually you can't choose when it happens🤷🏽♀️and writting ideas its key too, otherwise they pass to oblivion, thanks for describe this so well😊
I haven't read the book, but going on just the information given in this video, my overall reaction is "this isn't hyperfocus, this is just 'focus'".
As someone with ADHD (as many other people in these comments), I can say that hyperfocus can be both good and bad, and - most importantly - it is not something that can be controlled. If you happen to hyperfocus on a productive task, then yay! If it's an unproductive task, then.. oh dear. There's very little intention or control over the state of hyperfocus - it's an obsessive state that does not allow 'meta awareness', timer-based check-ins, internal discipline, etc. On the contrary: it's called 'hyper' focus because it is an extreme, excessive state of focus, and not in a healthy way.
Likewise, hyperfocus is also a very creative mode, because you exclude all other stimuli to think only about a specific subject but -because ADHDers have chaotic brains- it allows to look at a specific subject from several different angles, including rambling related to the central subject than you then bring back to it.
It's not helpful to use terms that already exist for medical conditions and apply them to related but different things that then cause confusion and misunderstanding about the medical condition. To be clear, this is a criticism aimed at the book's author: he just thought 'hyperfocus' sounded cooler than calling it 'focus', which is precisely what he is describing (as per this video) and, ultimately, that is an incredibly irresponsible thing to do.
Don't glamourise hyperfocus, neurotypical people, just focus.
This one can be combined along with Duhigg's and Clears books on habits.
I don't have the ability to set up a work and play spaces so what I like to do instead is to put my watch on my right wrist when I focus on work.
That action is so deliberate and noticable because I can feel the watch on my other wrist that it puts my mind in work mode through pavlovian conditioning and when I'm done I put my watch on my ususal left wrist
My loose example of intentionality is that lately when stuck on a problem, I found that I had not framed the problem from the correct perspective.
Great content as always. What trick did you pull with the selfie stick at 5:12?
I loved reading this book
What a timing i finished the book yesterday !
Tanks for you vids !!
That would be amazing if you could slow down a little when speaking because you’re giving a looooot of infos and I am pretty sure a big part of your subscribers are from other countries, just like me.
Happy new year to you ! 🎊
Always break down what you want to do into as many steps as possible. The more actions you have, the easier each action is to actually implement 💪
True, little wins along the way are very encouraging
@@intentionalliving7326 we deserve to be rewarded, we’ve had a tough year 😂
i used to use that first method of alarm for awareness when i was studying for my exams.. i put alarm on each 5 min so i can stay focused!
Hey Thomas! Yet again a Fantastic video👌
These new videos are getting better and better. But, these new videos have a deep blue/violet background which looks cool but seems a bit dark at times. I think you should also experiment with having a yellowish background and lighting like your old videos and like your podcast.
Do not get me wrong your videos are fantastic and I love it but I think you can actually use light to express various emotions and a lighter colour will suit a topic like say motivation better.
Again, great work by you and your team ❤
Nice video 💯💯
It's not as easy for me to differentiate my work space and relaxation space but what I like to do is change th environment of my desk. Like removing my work stuff and maybe adding some fun stuff. It helps too
Dude this is amazing. I've been thinking about thoughts and how to manage them for the past 3 days. How did you know??
Searching up this video when I'm trying to do a huge history project at literally 3:04 AM.
It needs to be submitted in 5 hours,
i feel like constantly asking yourself where's your mind is focusing on is really similar to awareness in some meditation books
Frank Thomas is the great motivator of the un-motivated people. Plus there are defective human beings too: I dose off if I try reading a difficult book on a difficult subject. If I watch TV, I am all focused. On the other hand, I cannot focus on the story-line while watching a movie. Like he said, some techniques were already there from the time immemorial. Not everyone knew about how to implement these techniques. If I read a book like Chris Bailey's, I have awesome focus for the next couple of hours, until my next distraction.
I really like the concept of scatterfocus vs hyperfocus. Very interesting. I will check out the book of Chris Bailey.
So, mindfulness and open awareness meditation techniques. It would be interesting if Thomas reviewed how different meditation and concentration techniques affected his productivity and creativity. Vipassana vs yoga nidra vs Madhyadasha vs Antar Mouna vs Metta vs Mantra (or Transcendental Meditation) vs Trataka vs Hong Sau vs Tonglen.
you are helping me to boos my english
I started reading the book, but then got distracted! Thanks for the video!👍
brilliant
The gym is a great example of going in with a plan seeing that it will save you time and drop the risk of you asking yourself how many sets and reps should I do, etc.. ?
Rodney Mullen set a camera up and did a time lapses of his work life. Thats a very cool way of maintaining integrity. I have a swatch project with a hundred gel pens. I'm usually just tinkering with it. Tomorrow I'll put the camera on to invigilate. Plus, time lapses are cool anyway like watching your home workout back or making bacthes of things for large blocks of time. This one's going to look artistic.