Introduction
You can be very well organized and still move slowly.
The reason is almost always the same: your attention is fragmented.
In the productivity guide, focus is the second foundational pillar, right after work organization. Once you know what to do and when to do it, you still need to be able to give it real, continuous attention, without being interrupted every five minutes.
So this chapter explores a topic that has become central to modern work: the ability to focus in an environment designed to capture and divert your attention.
Why focus has become so difficult
Most modern work environments encourage constant interruption.
Notifications, instant messaging, open offices, unexpected requests, information overload.
The result is simple: we often confuse time spent at work with time spent doing truly useful work.
That's exactly what Carlson's law shows: a task done in one continuous sequence always takes less time and less energy than a task fragmented by interruptions.
Remove interruptions from machines
The first source of distraction is technology.
Notifications, incoming emails, and instant messages too often decide for you when you should stop working. Regaining control starts by cutting those interruptions at the source.
That's the goal of remove notifications, a simple but radical move to recover hours of focus every week.
Resist the distractions you create yourself
Not all interruptions come from outside.
A large share of distractions come from yourself.
Autopilot scrolling, reflexively opening a tab, compulsively checking messages, escaping to easy content as soon as effort feels uncomfortable.
In resisting temptations, we explore how to deliberately add friction between you and those distractions so you don't fall into the habit loops.
Create a focus bubble
Even without notifications and digital temptations, there is a third major source of interruption: other people.
Coworkers, unexpected calls, constant pings, conversations that spill over.
Create your focus bubble offers simple strategies to signal unavailability, isolate temporarily, and create real deep-work tunnels.
Choose the right communication channel
Not all communication is equal.
Synchronous communication interrupts. Asynchronous communication frees time and attention. Learning to choose the right channel, at the right time, is a key skill to protect focus.
That's what asynchronous communication covers, before going deeper into the most attention-fragmenting tools.
Tame instant messaging
Slack, Teams, and friends can be useful. Used poorly, they become machines that fragment attention.
In instant messaging: friend or foe, you'll see how to limit their impact, individually and collectively, without cutting communication.
Reach deep focus states
When interruptions are reduced, it becomes possible to reach much deeper, more satisfying focus states.
That's flow: a mental state where performance and enjoyment increase at the same time.
But to reach it sustainably, you still need to respect your limits.
Take breaks to focus better
Focus isn't infinite.
Trying to stay locked in for too long creates the opposite effect.
The power of breaks explains why alternating work and rest is necessary to protect cognitive energy and maintain quality over time.
Take back control of email
Email remains one of the main sources of distraction in daily work.
This chapter proposes a progressive approach, from handling 300 emails a day to email basics, and finally a sustainable method with inbox zero.