Winning the War for Your Attention at Work

Your brain scans for distractions 20 times per sentence you read. In our hyperconnected workplace, this ancient threat-detection system works against us, constantly pulling focus from meaningful work to the latest notification.

The solution isn't willpower—it's understanding that attention has two components: enhancement (focusing on what matters) and suppression (filtering out noise). Research shows we maintain our focusing ability as we age, but lose our filtering capacity.

Three strategies to reclaim control:

Scan: Practice shifting attention deliberately between tasks

Zoom: Learn to turn up/down the volume on thoughts and distractions

Reframe: Change how you interpret workplace stress and challenges

Master your attention, master your performance.

https://stevemagness.substack.com/p/winning-the-war-for-your-attention