Be Present, Be Productive: How Attention Shapes Your Work

Author

Amenda Wong
April 15, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Hi friends,

Just wanted to provide a quick update: I’ve decided to sharpen my focus of creating practical tools and insights for godly living. Newsletter updates will be less frequent, but more intentional and sustainable (It’s been a very busy season over here!) This change will also give me the space to create higher-quality resources. I appreciate your support as I work through all of this.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff:

You’ve probably felt it: that pressure to always be “on.”

Some workplaces only care about results. Others only care if you look busy. Either way, the message is the same—keep moving, or you’re falling behind.

When you have to constantly meet deadlines and pivot, it’s easy to feel productive, even when you’re not really making progress. (FYI task switching actually makes you 40% less efficient.)

⚡We’ve learned to value speed over depth. Hustle over rest. Reacting over reflecting.

🌱 None of these really fit how God designed your mind and body to function.

8 Ways to Make Focus Work for You

Not every situation calls for the same approach. Some days, you control your time. Other days, interruptions are constant. The key is to adapt.

  1. Block focus time – Plan distraction-free work sessions (30–90 minutes if possible). If that’s unrealistic, start with 5–10 minutes of full focus before switching tasks.

  2. Batch communication – Set specific times—like morning, before lunch, and late afternoon—to check and respond to emails and messages instead of doing it all day.

  3. Stack similar tasks – Group related activities together to maintain momentum and avoid the mental energy drain of switching between unrelated tasks.

  4. Limit task-switching – When an unrelated thought pops up, write it down instead of acting on it immediately. Keeping a "later list" helps prevent distractions from derailing your focus.

  5. Reset between tasks – If an interruption pulls you away, take a deep breath, jot a quick note, or pause before jumping back in. A short reset helps your brain transition smoothly.

  6. Create small boundaries – Signal when you need focus time by setting office hours, using noise-canceling headphones, or letting people know when you’re in deep work mode.

  7. Turn off non-essential notifications – Protect your attention. Most things can wait, and constant alerts keep your brain in reaction mode instead of focus mode.

  8. Be fully present – Whether working, eating, or talking to someone, resist the urge to multitask. The more you practice presence, the easier it becomes to focus.

A Better Rhythm

I used to be the queen of getting distracted. I may have unwittingly left a laundry basket in the middle of the living room chasing another task. Several times.

That’s when I realized something deeper: this isn’t just about productivity. I was working with the wrong attitude. God didn’t design us to constantly hustle and switch gears. He designed us for clarity, focus, and intentional rhythms.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1

We were not meant to live in constant reaction mode. God’s way includes rest, margin, and presence. And when you embrace that rhythm, everything changes.

The Attention-Productivity Loop

You don’t have to live in constant hustle to be successful. God’s way is rooted in purpose, not pressure.

Proverbs 4:25 reminds us that focus brings clarity and peace. “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.”

Better focus leads to getting more done with less effort and less mental drain. You can fully experience what’s in front of you.

Hope you found this content helpful!

—Amenda

References