Hey, Brook here. Welcome back to KEEP GOING, where I write a weekly letter to you to help fuel your journey with lifestyle design.
I heard this quote from Zach Schenken, and it blew me away.
Quote I heard from Zach Shenken
Here is my take and contextualization.
Time isn't the most valuable resource we have. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. That is a given thanks to existing and being alive. We can't gain more time or lose time. The future isn't actualized yet, and the past doesn't exist anymore. Time honestly doesn't matter.
So what does matter?
Attention.
When you don't intentionally direct your attention at the things that count, at the things that help you reach your goals... you inevitably end up missing your targets.
Imagine this:
You're at an archery range with a bow & arrow and attempting to hit a bullseye. While, at the same time, trying to watch a YouTube video.
It's simple. You will miss. This is because your attention isn't directed in the right places.
No matter how long you wait; or using your time "wisely" by multitasking by watching a tutorial on how to shoot a bow and arrow, you will always miss your target.... if your attention is misplaced.
You should be placing your attention into your technique, drawing the bow, aiming, and releasing the arrow. Nowhere else. This is a fact of life.
Time was never the most important thing. It has always been our energy and attention.
Thanks to the modern world, we all have excess amounts of energy.
We don't have to scavenge for food, or fight off other tribes from our hunting ground. Instead, we can pick up a week's worth of groceries from the store, and cook it in an extremely convenient kitchen.
We don't have to migrate each season to a more temperate climate, as if we were nomadic tribesmen.
We have it so good, we almost suck because of it. (read more here)
Because of all this convenience and security, we have an immense amount of leverage over our daily lives (and a painful amount of free will). We have more control over our own destiny than anyone else has ever had in history.
This leverage almost always nets us with excess energy and attention. How we aim that attention defines everything. It's a manifest destiny, but you MUST aim it.
Without properly tuning your attention to the things that matter, you will end up lost in distraction:
Scrolling Reddit
Watching entertaining, but otherwise useless YouTube videos
Reading yet another self-help book that doesn't actually apply to your life
Yes, you will lose time, probably years of your life, if you remain firing your attention without intention. But this isn't about time management, instead attention management.
I will repeat the quote:
Time isn't yours to spend, attention is yours to aim.
Last week, I discussed how the dopamine system creates slaves of us all (especially hunter types or ADHD-ADD folk (let me know if you want me to discuss this more)).
We can't escape the dopamine system, but how we direct our attention is heavily impacted by our dopaminergic system. If we have been putting attention towards the same hyper-stimulating, attention-thieving activities for too long... breaking the habit can be very difficult. We become literally addicted to it.
This is a direct hijacking of our most valuable resource: our attention.
You can take it back, but it requires a little bit of sacrifice, and a lot of change.
I'll keep it simple:
You need to pull yourself away from the attention thieves as much as possible for about 3 weeks.
This is like pressing a reset button.
Once you press the reset button, you then need to direct your attention to the things that count.
Here are some tools for doing the reset, and preventing a relapse:
Block apps and websites with cold turkey blocker (don't rely on willpower to block distractions, use systems) (link)
Dopamine detoxing — find a protocol that works for you
Audit screen time and block apps with Opal/ScreenZen (block attention thieves on your phone) (link to Opal, link to ScreenZen)
Turn off notifications AND badges on your phone
Run Do Not Disturb (or Reduce Interruptions-mode) 24/7
Audit your following list on socials (if you look at the feed, you are giving those people your attention—make sure it's dialed)
No one is entitled to your attention. You choose where you aim it.
Again, here is the quote to ingrain it in your mind:
Time isn't yours to spend, attention is yours to aim.
One thing to note:
If you do this, and it makes your life miserable, know this: unlearning and redirecting yourself can be a very annoying and painful process. It's literally removing pathways from your brain (for more context: read this)
But all good things either come or go with pain. That is life. Like in lifting or running or stretching, it's temporary pain for long term gain. Your attention bends to your will, but unfortunately the skill has atrophied.
We are a scrawny middle schooler again thanks to our environment. And we need to get back into the metaphorical attention-attuning gym. It requires a little bit of awareness and intention.
Next week is going to be about how you can craft your environment to net results, and make attention management effortless.
Thanks for reading.
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