Attention as Currency
Viewing attention as a limited resource that can be spent, invested, or wasted.
Also known as: Attention value, Attention allocation, Attention budgeting
Category: Concepts
Tags: attention, mental-model, productivity, values, decision-making
Explanation
Attention as currency is a mental model treating attention as a finite resource to be allocated deliberately - like money. Every attention decision is a spending choice: giving attention to one thing means not giving it to another. This framing helps: recognize the true cost of 'free' content (you pay with attention), evaluate attention investments (what return do I get?), and protect attention like you'd protect money. Like currency, attention can be: spent wisely or wasted, invested for future returns, or stolen/extracted by others. Unlike money, attention can't be saved - each moment's attention is use-it-or-lose-it. The currency metaphor suggests practices like: attention budgeting (allocating attention deliberately), attention ROI (evaluating attention investments), and attention protection (guarding against theft). For knowledge workers, treating attention as currency means: making explicit allocation decisions, recognizing opportunity costs, and valuing attention at its true worth.
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