In 1971, renowned social scientist Herbert Simon observed, "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention."
In the decades since Simon's visionary statement, the amount of information that we're confronted with on a daily basis has grown exponentially. Open-plan offices have brought the buzz of other people's activities into our workspaces. The Internet has provided an infinite source of distraction right inside our primary workstation — the computer. And smartphones have made the allure of new information available anytime, anywhere.In a world filled with distraction, attention is our competitive advantage. To help you stay on task, we've rounded up a selection of our top tips on finding focus.
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More about Jocelyn K. Glei
A writer and the founding editor of 99U, Jocelyn K. Glei is obsessed with how to make great creative work in the Age of Distraction. Her latest book is Unsubscribe: How to Kill Email Anxiety, Avoid Distraction, and Get Real Work Done. Her previous works include the 99U’s own bestselling book series: Manage Your Day-to-Day, Maximize Your Potential, and Make Your Mark. Follow her @jkglei.
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