Distractions are inevitable, whether it’s your phone pulling you away from work or sleep, the noise in your office, or a home workspace that just isn’t conducive to productivity.
Distractions don’t have to hold us back from getting the important things done. There are many ways to manage distractions.
But first it’s important to learn the four types of attention before we can learn how to manage our distractions.
The four types of attention
The first is focused attention. This is the ability to concentrate on a single task. It’s the type of attention we use when we’re deeply engaged in something, like reading a book or solving a problem.
The next is rote attention. “You use this type of attention when you do something engaging but not mentally taxing, such as playing an online game like solitaire or Candy Crush,” explains Fast Company writer, Stephanie Vozza. “Household chores, such as ironing or peeling potatoes, can also be rote.”
