Finding Focus in a Multitasking Office Environment

Leaders waste more energy on divided focus than any other activity. I learned this the hard way in the SEAL Teams. During a training evolution, I was juggling radio communications, coordinating multiple teams, and making split-second calls. And I wasn’t doing any of it well. My commanding officer pulled me aside: "Mac, you're everywhere and nowhere. Focus or you'll miss the critical moment." He was right. I was spread so thin I couldn't see the patterns emerging right in front of me. This isn't just a military problem. I see it daily with my executive clients: → Scanning emails during strategy discussions → Mentally rehearsing a presentation while their team shares crucial updates → Attention bouncing between five urgent problems, solving none completely The cost isn't just productivity. Your leadership presence evaporates. Your team's trust erodes. In high-performance environments, attention isn't just a resource. It's your competitive advantage. When you focus fully: → You notice micro-expressions that signal team tension → You spot connections between seemingly unrelated data points → You make decisions from clarity rather than reaction Most leaders know this. Few practice it consistently. The difference isn't knowledge, it's discipline. The solution isn't complicated: 1. Practice intentional monotasking. Whatever deserves your attention deserves your FULL attention. 2. Create attention boundaries. Block time for deep work with zero notifications. 3. Build a daily mindfulness practice. Even 5 minutes trains your focus muscle. 4. Batch-process inputs. Schedule specific times for email and updates rather than letting them hijack your entire day. In my 17+ years as a SEAL, the leaders I trusted most weren't just the smartest or toughest. They were the ones who could maintain complete presence amidst chaos. They showed up fully. Their attention wasn't divided. Their focus created a gravity that pulled teams together. What deserves your full attention today? ——— Follow me (Jon Macaskill ) for leadership insights, wellness tools, and real stories about humans being good humans. And feel free to repost if someone in your life needs to hear this. 📩 Subscribe to my newsletter here → https://lnkd.in/g9ZFxDJG You'll get FREE access to my 21-Day Mindfulness & Meditation Course with real, actionable strategies.

I was diagnosed with ADD at 8 years old. I have 8 brain hacks that keep me highly-productive in office: 1. Noise-cancelling headphones ALWAYS (i.e. silence) I am highly sensitive to noise. If a pen drops, someone coughs, a coffee machine is turned on…you name it. I lose my train of thought and it breaks my laser focus. If I need to get something done, I NEED to have headphones on otherwise the task easily takes 40% longer (yes, I timed it lol). 2. Uninterrupted (no yapping) work time This is a follow-up to point # 1. I block my calendar so I can have silent headphone-only working time in order to get projects done. I am a yapper, I love to chat, and I can easily get pulled into a 100 different directions unless I have uninterrupted working time on the schedule. 3. Sit in the same place at the office When at the office, having a comfortable environment where I’m confronted with the SAME distractions every day helps me tune them out. Changing locations, changing desks means new noises, new people… you get it. 4. Sit around the most productive people This is the grown-up equivalent of sitting at the front of the classroom. Being around productivity helps improve my own. 5. Phone on “Do not disturb” ALWAYS I want to control when I look at my notifications, and keeping my phone on DND (unless for specific people like family, my partner) keeps me hyper-focused. Oftentimes I forget about my phone until I’m ready to take a break from whatever task I’m working on. 6. All major “to-dos” must be done before lunch Mornings = highly productive. I plan all of my absolute musts before lunch because it works in hyper speed before my first meal of the day. 7. Multiple screens Flipping through a million tabs = distractions. I need at LEAST two screens (at home I have 3) so I don’t have hundreds of tabs open, get overstimulated, then lose productivity. 8. Jewellery, rings, or something to keep in my hands I have a very rich inner world (🤣) and during long meetings, keeping my hands busy stops my mind from wondering. While also a fashion choice, having something to fidget with like my rings helps keep me locked in. I used to feel embarrassed about things like this, but my ADD and I are very good friends. Now that, over the course of (nearly) 31 years, I’ve learned how to manage it, I have turned in into a superpower. Because I had to compensate for other skills growing up, my emotional maturity skyrocketed at a very young age which has turned me into a great manager: ✨I’m a fantastic listener and communicator (i.e. how big sister was born). ✨ I am very comfortable with big feelings. Being different is a gift. What are some of your BEST productivity brain hacks?

Coworkers keep tapping you on the shoulder? Drop this 2-word boundary. "Focus Block" But it only works if you back it up with systems: 1️⃣ Headphones are like my office door - AirPods Pro, Sony WH-1000XM5s, or a $20 pair of construction headphones whatever kills the background noise. - I loop the same lofi playlist so folks see the cans + hear zero talk = “Max is in the zone.” 2️⃣ Zero notifications - Email, Slack, Teams, iMessage, Socials? All turned off. - Phone calls and teams calls are the only notifications that are enabled. - I also use the app "Laps" on iOS to handle blocking apps I don't want notifications from, and track my focus over time 3️⃣ Calendar armor - Focus Block #1 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM - Focus Block #2 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM - Catch-up window 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM (this is when I actually open inboxes/ IMs etc). - Status flips to Do Not Disturb so those “quick sync?” invites auto-decline 4️⃣ The polite deferral If someone still taps me on the shoulder, I typically say: “I’m in a focus block, can you give me (insert however much time is remaining) and I’ll swing by.” #deepfocus #productivity #softwareengineer

For 9 years, I tried to build successful businesses. None were home runs. But in the last 2-3 years, everything changed. And I’d attribute it to two main things: 1. Focus 2. Consistency Let’s talk about focus. Some stats to blow your mind: • The average knowledge worker checks email every 11 minutes • It takes 23 minutes to fully refocus after an interruption • People switch between apps 1,100+ times per day In other words—it’s an issue. But if you can focus...it’s never been easier to win. Here’s my 4-part method to building your focus muscles: Part 1: Input Elimination (Immediate Results) • Goal: Free up mental bandwidth by removing all non-essential inputs (see screenshot - only ~40% of your brain is free to work if you’re distracted) • Example: A friend of mine moved his desk into an office, closed the door, put in earplugs, and wore sunglasses. He scaled his agency to $900k/mo. Part 2: Context Switching Minimization (Compound Results) • Goal: Reduce the hidden "switching costs" that destroy productivity • Example: Each time you switch, you lose 10-15 minutes. Do that 20x a day and you lose ~2 hours a day. Instead, focus on 3 core tasks, complete them fully, and plan your day the night before. Part 3: Baseline Stimulation Reset (Long-term Gains) • Goal: Reverse the damage from hyper-stimulation addiction • Example: Eat meals in silence. 60+ minutes with no inputs. No music or content while driving. Walks without headphones. Reset your system. Part 4: Daily Focus Habit (Exponential Growth) • Goal: Build consistency that creates compound returns • Example: Same time (8-9am). Same location (office). Same task (lead gen). Same environment (temp, lighting, setup, etc.). If you’re struggling with focus, here’s my 7-day challenge for you: 1. Pick one time each day 2. Eliminate all other inputs 3. Choose a time segment (start small) 4. Be consistent for 7 days It can change your life.