Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.
Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.
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43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.
"Zerstreutheit" and the Attention Management Cure
Merlin Mann | Jun 13 2008
Linda Stone: Is it Time to Retire the Never-Ending List? Linda Stone -- who coined the phrase "continuous partial attention" -- makes a thoughtful distinction between managing time and attention, deflating the misconception that making long lists and then overscheduling your day can be a bulwark against distractions, interruptions, and the crippling feeling of being overwhelmed. In this recent blog entry from the Huffington Post, Stone talks about a pattern she's noticed from talking with people about how they think about and plan their day.
[HuffPo link via Boing Boing] She also goes on to include some tips about managing attention and focusing on outcomes rather than just obsessing over building a long and un-doable list. Good post -- and a great reminder that time management has no prayer of working if it's not accompanied by even tighter attention management. I also have to share this William James quote, which Stone's post mentions in passing (my emphasis).
"Zerstreutheit." I love it when there's a German word for my problem. 7 Comments
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About MerlinBio Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who created the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today, Back to Work, and Kung Fu Grippe. Also? He’s writing this book, he lives with this face, he suffers from this hair, he answers these questions, and he’s had this life. So far. Merlin’s favorite thing he’s written in the past few years is an essay entitled, “Cranking.” |
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