Why it can be hard to focus and how to improve this skill

Residents of large cities often face the problem of concentrating attention. This can be caused not only by information technologies, which have accustomed us to clip thinking, but also by frequent crisis situations.

Tatiana Poshatalova

psychologist, founder of Integral Space Academy, Mindfulness teacher.

Let’s find out what factors influence the focus of attention and what we should do about it.

Sometimes a person receives too much information and starts to lose concentration. Instead of dealing with work issues, many people can’t stop reading news feeds. Distractedness affects both productivity at work and quality of life in general.

What is concentration of attention

The ability to shift attention is a natural setting of our brain. Attention allows us to avoid dwelling on secondary information by focusing our energy on what is most important. Attention can be focused and unfocused.

Concentration is defined as the intensity and duration of the focus of attention. If concentration is disturbed, it becomes difficult to memorize information that has just been read, to concentrate in the absence of ideal conditions and to bring the started work to the end.

Why it can be difficult to concentrate

There are several factors that influence a person’s absent-mindedness and inability to focus on something specific for a long period of time.

Physiological factor

This aspect is related to the peculiarities of the structure of the human nervous system or events from childhood, which may have destabilized the nervous system of a child and led to difficulties in the regulation of the nervous system in adulthood. Such people find it more difficult to cope with stress, are more likely to get sick and have poorer concentration.

Health problems

Problems with attention can occur if a person does not have enough micronutrients necessary for normal life activity. B vitamins and iron are especially important. Where and why to look for them and whether you can replenish their supply with products, read the link below.

The body will be in a state of low tone, fatigue will appear, there will be no strength to fulfill basic needs. In such a state, it will be difficult to concentrate on work tasks, so if the symptoms are similar, it is necessary to consult a therapist and take tests.

Psychological factor

You can lose motivation and interest in the chosen occupation. In such a situation, it is better to change the type of activity, but some people find it difficult to decide to do so. The reasons are different: some can not find an alternative, others feel responsible for themselves, others do not imagine life without certain activities. The body begins to exhaust itself and does not have time to replenish resources, which leads to a state of unfocus.

If you enjoy the activity but find it difficult to focus, it may be due to a lack of support from colleagues or the complexity of the task at hand. For example, when a supervisor has given you a task that is not up to par and you become frustrated and unwilling to immerse yourself in the work.

External factors

Consuming fast-paced content can also affect concentration. If you regularly watch minute-long videos and read short posts, it will be nearly impossible to complete complex tasks that require diligence and attention to detail. Attention will constantly shift to simpler activities. To develop concentration, you should gradually switch to longer content (for example, instead of funny videos, it is better to watch a comedy movie or StandUp).

How to concentrate quickly

Noisy and intense life in the city, bright posters and large screens stimulate the nervous system, thus preventing deeper focus. Residents of megacities need to reduce the external impact on the body. For example, you can create a comfortable space in the apartment, where you will spend time in silence alone with yourself every day.

Start doing household chores without music or a TV series in the background, describe emotions and sensations in a diary, use the phone less during rest. One of the most effective ways to work with concentration is to practice meditation. With meditation, you will learn to direct your attention to the right tasks and protect yourself from unwanted stimuli and thoughts.

However, many studies prove that some people feel uncomfortable in total silence and a small level of noise only helps them immerse themselves in a task. If total silence pressures you, then choose places with quiet background music. It is advisable that there are no people talking around you, because your brain will unconsciously switch and parse the speech of those near you.

In case none of the above helped you, we’ve put together six lists that will help you organize yourself.