If you don’t pay appropriate attention to what has your attention… it will absolutely hijack your focus. It’s a simple truth I’ve seen play out time and time again in my own work and with countless others. Ignore the small stuff, and it becomes big stuff.
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Meaning
At its core, this is about the high cost of mental procrastination. It means that the unresolved tasks and nagging thoughts you push aside don’t just disappear; they actively drain your cognitive resources.
Explanation
Let me break this down for you. Your brain is not designed to be a storage closet. When you have an unfinished task—let’s say, a vague idea about needing to call a client—it creates an open loop. This open loop, this unresolved thing, sits in the back of your mind and constantly pings your consciousness. It’s like a browser tab you’ve had open for weeks, subtly slowing down your entire system. And here’s the kicker: the mental energy spent on remembering to call the client, and the low-grade anxiety of not having done it, is often far greater than the energy required to just make the two-minute call itself. That’s the “more attention than it deserves” part. You’re paying a premium in focus for a task that’s actually pretty cheap to execute.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Wisdom (385) |
| Topics | attention (57), focus (155), priorities (22) |
| Literary Style | analytical (121), memorable (234) |
| Emotion / Mood | realistic (354) |
| Overall Quote Score | 77 (179) |
Origin & Factcheck
This wisdom comes straight from David Allen’s seminal 2001 book, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, which he published in the United States. It’s a cornerstone of his entire GTD methodology. You sometimes see similar sentiments floating around, but this specific, powerful phrasing is uniquely his.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | David Allen (50) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (50) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
David Allen created the GTD methodology and helped millions organize work and life with clear, actionable steps. He began as a management consultant, refined GTD through client engagements, and published Getting Things Done in 2001, followed by Ready for Anything and Making It All Work. He founded the David Allen Company and expanded GTD training globally, later relocating to Amsterdam to support international growth. A sought-after speaker and advisor, he remains a leading voice on clarity, focus, and execution. Explore the David Allen book list for essential reads.
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | If you don’t pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2001; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 978-0143126560; Last edition: Revised edition published 2015; Number of pages: 352. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 2: Getting Control of Your Life, Approximate page 40 (2015 edition) |