Simplify your attentional space to live more productively

Identify what’s presently occupying your attentional space
Set an hourly timer on your phone or watch. When the alarm rings, ask yourself: What was on my mind when the alarm sounded? How full is my attentional space? Am I immersed in a productive or distracting task? Write down these answers on a sheet of paper to increase your awareness of what’s occupying your attention. Then, adjust your attention accordingly by choosing one meaningful task to focus on.

Take a break before switching to a new task to avoid attention residue
Once you’ve completed a big, high-pressure task, consider taking a break before starting a new task. This allows the attention residue of the previous task to dissipate so that you can adequately focus on the new task.