The Focus Fix: Finding Clarity, Creativity and Resilience in an Overwhelming World

by Chris Griffiths, Caragh Medlicott

Overview

With focus and a clear mind, we can achieve almost anything. But we are constantly subjected to a deluge of distractions, from endless notification pings to anxiety and self-doubt.

The Focus Fix explores how you can reset your mindset in order to reclaim your focus and achieve incredible results. In this fascinating book, leading creativity expert Chris Griffiths and journalist Caragh Medlicott unearth scientific studies and inspiring case studies to offer practical and proven techniques that will allow you to dispel distractions and maintain your focus.

This book also uncovers the numerous benefits of sustained focus: you can achieve more by doing less, improve your mental wellbeing and boost your creativity. Don't get distracted - maximize your potential and discover the antidote to burnout with The Focus Fix.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781398616110
Publisher:	Kogan Page, Ltd.
Publication date:	07/03/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	264
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Chris Griffiths is a world-leading expert on creativity and innovation. His books have been published in 20 languages, and The Creative Thinking Handbook was selected by Forbes as one of the best books to "get your creative juices flowing." Millions of individuals use his tools and techniques to become more productive.

Caragh Medlicott was previously Communications Manager at OpenGenius, and is now a full time writer. Along with Chris Griffiths she is the co-author of The Creative Thinking Handbook, also published by Kogan page. She has contributed to pieces in many popular publications including GQ, Forbes, The Times and the BBC.

Chris Griffiths is a world-leading expert on creativity and innovation.


His books have been published in 20 languages, and The Creative Thinking Handbook was selected by Forbes as one of the best books to "get your creative juices flowing." Millions of individuals use his tools and techniques to become more productive.

Caragh Medlicott was previously Communications Manager at OpenGenius, and is now a full time writer. Along with Chris Griffiths she is the co-author of The Creative Thinking Handbook, also published by Kogan page. She has contributed to pieces in many popular publications including GQ, Forbes, The Times and the BBC.

Table of Contents

• • Chapter - 00: Introduction: Boiling frogs;
  • Chapter - 01: A surprising way to find focus;
  • Chapter - 02: Battling burnout in a connected world;
  • Chapter - 03: Unlock your untapped creative potential;
  • Chapter - 04: The misinterpreted mental voyage;
  • Chapter - 05: Doing less to achieve more;
  • Chapter - 06: Reconnect with your curious mind!;
  • Chapter - 07: Productive mind wandering;
  • Chapter - 08: Harness the power of focused daydreaming;
  • Chapter - 09: Escape Busy Fool Syndrome;
  • Chapter - 10: Fixing your focus at work;
  • Chapter - 11: Soaring swans;

Editorial Reviews

05/20/2024

Business consultant Griffiths (The Creative Thinking Handbook) and Medlicott, an editor at Wales Art Review, set forth a lackluster guide for fostering outside-the-box thinking. The authors are primarily interested in how readers can “unlock your true creative potential” by practicing “focused daydreaming.” This “mental meandering” involves selecting a problem to solve (for example, “My intention is to reimagine how I might reorganize my average day in order to be more efficient”), conducting background research, and then letting one’s thoughts drift while keeping one’s attention on the problem at hand (the authors never provide a satisfactory explanation of how to reconcile these contradictory imperatives). The idea is to tap into the wisdom of the subconscious, which they contend “might blend and intersperse seemingly irrelevant experiences and fragments of information to produce novel ideas.” To that end, they recommend entering a daydream state by cooking, doing chores, exercising, or listening to music. Historical anecdotes illustrating the breakthroughs that have stemmed from daydreaming will be familiar to most readers (e.g., Isaac Newton formulating his theory of gravity after watching apples fall from a tree), and the authors struggle to elaborate on their central framework, leading to repetitive passages extolling the benefits of getting lost in thought. This misses the mark. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"Chris and Caragh hit the mark with this insightful book, targeting the challenges of the 'attention economy,' by providing an 'ejection seat' from today's 'always-on' culture - it's a game changer!"

Sharon Curry

"The Focus Fix aids in reimagining our approach to work and education in an era shadowed by Artificial Intelligence and automation. Griffiths and Medlicott present a new paradigm shift in understanding focus and transforming it into an accessible tool that allows us to effectively manoeuvre through the complexities and demands of the modern world."

Dr Dina Fiadi

"The Focus Fix demystifies creativity and helps people not only find clarity and unlock their own creativity, but also apply it to everyday challenges in simple, enjoyable ways."

Alison Jones

"This book forces you to pause and reflect to ensure you don't fall into the traps of being a busy fool! It will give you permission to stop and create a space for more creativity and calm in your life and at work."

Liz Oseland

"A must-read book of the year. The Focus Fix features actionable tips that will skyrocket your career or business to the next level."

author of The Creator Mindset Nir Bashan

"A very timely book. The demands of the attention economy and our battle with techno-stress are huge, current issues."

Leadership and Learning Consultant Bill Lowe

"The Focus Fix is a wonderful and convincing book outlining the crucial role that daydreaming plays in our daily lives. In a world full of distraction, the power of daydreaming is vital in creating a relaxed and focused mind. Highly recommended."

Professor Stefan van der Stigchel

"As the world becomes more complex and our attention gets pulled in more directions, the ability to focus and find creative solutions becomes more critical. This book offers practical and tactical guidance that all of us can leverage immediately to manage and thrive in our ever-changing personal and professional lives."

Matt Abrahams

"This engaging book brings recent work in psychology and neuroscience to provide clear and easy to use ideas about building a life where we have room to dream and to focus. The tips are designed to build creativity, engagement in work, and improve life overall."

Professor Heather C. Lench

"The Focus Fix brings you to that special place where you can create truly creative moments by removing life's tensions. It will help bring you to find new moments of discovery and self improvement. Enjoy being creative one day at a time."

Daryl Lim

"Chris and Caragh's thorough treatise on how our minds actually work and their tips and insights for tuning it to work even more effectively should be at the top of your reading list."

co-author of The Answer is a Question Dominic Ashley-Timms