When you can focus, you become lethal.

Learning new things becomes easier. And more fun.

Which means:

• You become more valuable (and your value compounds the more you learn and ‘stack’ knowledge-disciplines)
• You become Anti-Fragile (assuming you continue learning, you will continue getting stronger even as you make mistakes… Even horrendous mistakes like I have)…
• And you will become capable of doing more…
• To top it all off, it’s a virtuous cycle, where the more capable you become, the easier it gets.

What most people don’t realize is everyone has two ‘modes of focus.’

And staying in “one mode” for too long is counterproductive.

So in today’s post, I’ll be sharing these two modes of focus and how to split your attention between the two at the right times.

Plus, how to engineer your environment to tune into each more easily.

Sound good? Alrighty then, let’s go…

FOCUS: The 2 Modes

1. Conscious Focused Mode

This mode of focus happens in the Prefrontal Cortex. This is the part of the brain where we do our “executive thinking” and decision-making.

We want to use this mode for intense, detail oriented problems.

A while ago, I took a MOOC called Mindshift where Barbara Oakley describes the kinds of environments we want to put ourselves in for this type of problem-solving & focus. Can you guess what is best?

I’ll tell you: you want a quiet room with a low ceiling.

It should feel as if your focus is tight.

This lends itself to more detail-oriented thinking rather than big picture thinking.

Which is what we are doing in the next mode of focus…

2. Unconscious Diffuse Mode

The opposite of conscious focused mode is unconscious diffused mode.

In this mode of focus, we’re better off approaching creative, big picture problems.

And as you might guess, the better environment for this kind of focus is a room with a high ceiling. Or in my personal opinion, being outside is also great for this when the weather permits.

I’ve found that splitting my time between the two, and mixing up my environments to reflect each of these kinds of focus has a profound effect on my productivity and overall sense of well-being.

I get more done. I feel more relaxed. And generally, enjoy life more.

Hope this will have a similar effect for you, too.

Godspeed,

-Gerald