Author

Chris Bailey

16 key ideas across 2 books, each explained in our own words.

Hyperfocus

IDEA 1
Attention is limited and valuable
Bailey argues that the quality of our attention determines the quality of our lives. Our attentional space, the amount of information we can hold in mind at once, is small, so what we let into it matters greatly.
IDEA 2
Hyperfocus is deliberate deep focus
Bailey describes hyperfocus as choosing one important task, removing distractions and directing full attention to it. In this state, people work with less effort and more satisfaction, because their limited attentional space is devoted to just one thing.
IDEA 3
Sort tasks into four types
Bailey divides tasks by whether they are attractive and whether they are productive: necessary, unnecessary, purposeful and distracting. Purposeful work is both productive and engaging, and he suggests protecting time for it while limiting distracting tasks.

IDEA 1
A year of testing productivity advice
After university, Bailey spent a year running productivity experiments on himself, from meditating for hours to living in isolation. He wanted to find out which techniques really work, rather than simply repeating popular advice.
IDEA 2
Productivity needs time, attention and energy
Bailey concludes that productivity rests on three ingredients: managing time, attention and energy. Having lots of time is useless if you cannot focus or are too tired, so all three must be looked after together.
IDEA 3
Productivity is about accomplishing what matters
Bailey defines productivity as how much you accomplish, not how busy you are. He suggests asking what you want to achieve, then judging your days by progress towards those aims, not by hours worked.

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