Where your focus is actually going (and how to get it back)

Product managers often struggle to maintain focus amid constant distractions from real-time chat alerts, meeting sprawl, and dashboard grazing, which can impede the deep, uninterrupted thought needed for sophisticated product work. Regaining control over one's attention requires treating it as a finite resource, akin to budget management, by conducting regular attention audits to track how time is spent and aligning it with priorities. Strategies to protect focus include blocking time for deep work, adopting asynchronous communication by default, clustering meetings, and creating rituals that signal deep-work mode. By implementing these tactics, product managers can enhance their productivity, make more informed decisions, and improve their overall well-being by reducing stress and increasing clarity in their workdays.