The Lantern is a thoughtfully curated weekly email from Mike Vardy designed to help you craft a better relationship with time. Each edition brings you insights, inspiration, and practical tools through a simple yet powerful framework: Look (a thought-provoking video or visual), Listen (a compelling podcast or audio insight), and Learn (a deep dive into a key concept, article, or book). Designed to inform, inspire, and illuminate, The Lantern helps you navigate time with clarity and intention—without the overwhelm.
The pull on your attention
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Hello Reader, October is ADHD Awareness Month. And since attention is such a central part of that conversation, I wanted to take a moment before the month gets into full swing to tap into yours. Firstly, the last week's edition of The Lantern was missing its LOOK, LISTEN, and LEARN section. I’ve fixed that and you can read it in full here. But I also want to share something deeper—because attention is both fragile and powerful. In The Productivity Diet I introduced the Spheres of Attention—Noticing, Awareness, Focus, and Concentration. They give you a way to place intention behind where your attention goes, rather than letting algorithms, headlines, or notifications decide for you. Here’s the truth: news, media, and social platforms aren’t simply informing us—they’re competing for us. And if we’re not deliberate, we slide from meaningful engagement into endless distraction. That’s why it’s helpful to know which sphere you’re in.
If you’d like to explore this further, I’ve unpacked how these spheres apply to news, media, and more in this article. And if you have further (or deeper) challenges with attention – such as ADHD – then I encourage you to check out my latest course in the TimeCrafting Trust community, TimeCrafting and ADHD. The point isn’t to withdraw from the world. It’s to engage with it—without being consumed by it. Take a few minutes this week to notice: Where is my attention right now? — Mike P.S. All month long, A Productive Conversation will feature conversations that connect with ADHD Awareness Month. First up is my discussion with the author of Extra Focus, Jesse J. Anderson. You can listen to it here. |
The Lantern: A Weekly Guide to Navigating Time with Intention
The Lantern is a thoughtfully curated weekly email from Mike Vardy designed to help you craft a better relationship with time. Each edition brings you insights, inspiration, and practical tools through a simple yet powerful framework: Look (a thought-provoking video or visual), Listen (a compelling podcast or audio insight), and Learn (a deep dive into a key concept, article, or book). Designed to inform, inspire, and illuminate, The Lantern helps you navigate time with clarity and intention—without the overwhelm.
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