--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you don’t pay appropriate attention to…" description: "\"“If you don’t pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves.” --David Allen”\" — Thomas Oppong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/thomas-oppong-283057_attention_if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-t_2485516.jpg" --- # If you don’t pay appropriate attention to what has your… ![“If you don’t pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves.” --David Allen” quote by Thomas Oppong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/thomas-oppong-283057_attention_if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-t_2485516.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/thomas-oppong-283057_attention_if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-t_2485516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/thomas-oppong-283057_attention_if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-t_2485516.jpg) > ““If you don’t pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves.” --David Allen”” [Thomas Oppong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-oppong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neglecting to focus on what truly deserves attention leads to it consuming more of your mental resources than it should. **In simple terms:** Ignoring important matters wastes attention. Key Takeaway Prioritize truly important tasks to protect focus. Themes productivity attention management mindfulness Mood practical mindful urgent Type Attention:1 Focus:1 Attention Attention:0 Attention Deserves:1 Appropriate Attention:1 David Allen:0 When to use this quote - time management - personal development - coaching sessions Key Concepts cognitive load focus prioritization Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help identify truly deserving attention? - How can we prevent minor issues from draining mental energy? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appropriate Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appropriate-attention-910170/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Attention Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-attention-485003/) [Attention Deserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-deserves-898541/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/david-allen-910171/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) ## Related quotes > [If you don't pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-to-what-has-your-attention-it/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [If you dont pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-you-dont-pay-appropriate-attention-to-what-has-your-attention-it/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“David Allen said it best, “You can do anything. But you can’t do everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-becker/david-allen-said-it-best-you-can-do-anything-but-you-can-t-do/) [Joshua Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-becker/) > [“You can do anything, but not everything.”  -David Allen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacey-verdicchio/you-can-do-anything-but-not-everything-david-allen/) [Jacey Verdicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacey-verdicchio/) > [“Balance is giving not equal but appropriate attention to each of the various categories of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hyatt/balance-is-giving-not-equal-but-appropriate-attention-to-each-of-the/) [Michael Hyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hyatt/) > [Attention! Attention! Attention! Thou art aware of the situation!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zack-ryder/attention-attention-attention-thou-art-aware-of-the-situation/) [Zack Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zack-ryder/) > [Your harshest critic is always going to be yourself. Don't ignore that critic but don't give it more attention than it deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/your-harshest-critic-is-always-going-to-be-yourself-don-t-ignore-that/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [It is my sincere hope that Christopher Bryson's apparently thorough and comprehensive perusal of the scientific literature on the biological actions of fluoride and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvid-carlsson/it-is-my-sincere-hope-that-christopher-bryson-s-apparently-thorough/) [Arvid Carlsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvid-carlsson/) > [If your girlfriend is feeling unhappy, unappreciated, or unimportant, there is something wrong. Give her the attention she deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-your-girlfriend-is-feeling-unhappy-unappreciated-or-unimportant/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's great to see wrestling expand and get the attention it deserves. It's such a great, great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhea-ripley/it-s-great-to-see-wrestling-expand-and-get-the-attention-it-deserves/) [Rhea Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhea-ripley/) > [I am delighted to see that the issue of coral reefs is receiving the attention it deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/i-am-delighted-to-see-that-the-issue-of-coral-reefs-is-receiving-the/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) > [Alzheimer's is literally killing us, and the only way to fight this 'crime' is through a groundswell of people who continue to raise their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/alzheimer-s-is-literally-killing-us-and-the-only-way-to-fight-this/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [I wish everyone gives me attention because when you get attention it is a pleasure, it is something good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/i-wish-everyone-gives-me-attention-because-when-you-get-attention-it/) [Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/) > [I've seen things that should get a lot of attention get no attention. I've seen things that were not supposed to be a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hoechlin/i-ve-seen-things-that-should-get-a-lot-of-attention-get-no-attention/) [Tyler Hoechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hoechlin/) > [If you're desperate enough for attention, any attention will make you feel better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-michaels/if-you-re-desperate-enough-for-attention-any-attention-will-make-you/) [Shawn Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-michaels/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you don’t pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves.” --David Allen”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Oppong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-oppong/if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-to-what-has-your-attention-it-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-oppong/if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-to-what-has-your-attention-it-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/thomas-oppong-283057_attention_if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-t_2485516.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/thomas-oppong-283057_attention_if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-t_2485516.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/thomas-oppong-283057_attention_if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-t_2485516.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you don’t pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than…” — Thomas Oppong", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Oppong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-oppong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If you don’t pay appropriate attention...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-oppong/if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-to-what-has-your-attention-it-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-oppong/if-you-don-t-pay-appropriate-attention-to-what-has-your-attention-it-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```