6. GRAB A PEN OR HIGHLIGHTER
There are two ways to consume information: passively and actively.
One of my (many) habits that bother my fiancée is that I tear out the first page of every book I read to use as a bookmark. (She argues this is sacrilegious; I say there are more copies of the same book at the store.) This is only the start of the carnage; I also read with a highlighter and a pen in hand so I can mark up the book as I read it. The number of highlights and notes on its pages indicates how much I liked it. When I finish that first read, I go through the book a second time, rereading just the highlighted parts so I can really process the most valuable nuggets. If I can, I'll annoy someone nearby by sharing these bits so I can process them again even more deeply.
I hope that while reading Hyperfocus you'll highlight and underline away, pulling the best ideas off its pages and carrying them in your mind to build and act upon later. If I've done a good job in writing it, you'll have made a large number of notes. (Please email me a picture of your finished work of art-I'd love to see it. My email, and other ways to contact me, are at the back of the book.)
7. WHEN YOU NOTICE YOUR FOCUS WAVERING
Your ability to focus isn't limitless-while you can improve your attention span, it's only a matter of time until it begins to waver. This often takes the form of your mind wandering away from the words on the page to the thoughts in your head. This is perfectly normal and human-and, as we'll see later, this wandering can be remarkably powerful when harnessed.
For now, though, when you do notice your focus fading, step back from this book for a few minutes to do something relatively mindless. Whether it's washing the dishes, people watching, or cleaning the house, you'll effectively recharge your attention, Once your focus has been reset, return to the book with a fresh mind. And just as you've kept a distractions list while you read, make sure you have a place to capture ideas that come to mind during your break.
