This is Why You Can't Focus

IMAGE: NBC News

The average adult loses focus every 6-10 seconds. The average child, about every 4 seconds. Doctors have put a fancy name on this - (ADD / ADHD) even though in the majority of cases, this mental wandering is a normal response to our natural biology and our ever changing environments.

The truth is, that we are busier than ever and feel as if we have less and less time-so we want our information on demand and in short summaries. We want our solutions to be quick and easy. In fact, by the time you are finished reading this post, your attention will have drifted several times-to your kids, your cell phone, your boss or coworker, or to something going on outside your window.

And, if I did not succeed in getting your attention with the headline or first line of the post, then you will be more apt to mentally wander or just scan through this text for information.

That is why you see so many "shocking truth" headlines and why TV commercials are comprised entirely of short montages of images that flash at you every 2 seconds like a strobe light: because advertisers know that they have a few short seconds to get your attention and hold it so they can get their message across-and they have to GRAB your attention (like those guys you hear on the radio shouting about buying a new car) get you excited, make you WANT that product or service and SELL you quickly before your attention wanders. And it will.

Conversely, when reading a blog, book, or magazine article, there are short paragraphs with white space between each one. Maybe an image or two depending on the topic. This to help your brain slow down, and absorb the information and pay attention better.

The reasons that we have a hard time focusing are sometimes complex, but are not necessarily due to a disorder. Simply put, its in our biology: the conscious part of our brain, the part that controls our imagination, judgments & decisions, has a very limited ability to actually process information. When it does, it can only do it a little bit a t a time and in the very short term.

The subconscious brain however, is directly responsible for running our inner biochemical reactions, (which adds up to about 10 quadrillion reactions per second) and does this non-stop-24 hours a day for our entire lives. This is the part of the brain that has the long-term processing ability, and helps to explain why we have trouble maintaining focus-and why we are so stressed.

Its all in the way we are wired.

The good news is that there are ways to tap into the subconscious and train our brains to keep focus for somewhat longer durations. By learning to do this, we can increase the efficiency of both our thoughts and our actions at the same time.

The first thing that we need to do, is release and reduce stress. A stressed brain cannot concentrate on much of anything except its own survival/boredom. Ironically, the best way to stimulate and engage the brain is through PHYSICAL activity! Our brains also form new pathways through physical action-especially true for infants, toddlers, children and teens. Walking, running, dancing, boxing, stretching, gardening, and other recreational activities, even for 10 - 15 minutes will do wonders to improve your mental processes and concentration level by releasing physical & mental tension.

The other activities below will not only coordinate and integrate both parts of your brain, (the conscious and the subconscious) but will also help to increase the brain' s ability to process information. A great benefit to this is that it can significantly reduce stress levels as well.

Try practicing one or two of these activities daily, for about 10-15 minutes. (I know you are busy, but that is exactly WHY you need to do this-so make the time!) If you can vary the activities and do this a few times a day, even better. This will keep it interesting and gradually develop all parts of the brain, improve your concentration and most importantly, help reduce your stress.


Give yourself time to Daydream:

Daydreaming may appear to be an activity for lazy people, but is actually an effective way to improve your focus and creative problem solving skills. The process of daydreaming is a very complicated and extremely productive neurological process. Viewed from the inside of the daydreamer, who is exploring the only space (their own mind) where they truly have autonomy, the process of creating positive imagery is just another form of thinking. Daydreaming is the opposite of the type of thinking we need for our working memory, and when we use one, we have to shut off the other. BOTH, however, are highly necessary for our emotional and intellectual health. So go ahead and daydream a little.

Get out the Crayons:

Coloring integrates both visual and brain processing functions. 85% of the information we take in, we do so thorough our eyes. about 1/4 of our brain is dedicated to visual processes. What you see, and what you create, will have an effect on your entire central nervous system. You do not have to be an accomplished artist-"doodles" and stick men have as much effect as drawing an intricate still life. Start by using a simple coloring page.(I keep a bunch of them - along with my own crayons - in my top desk drawer)  Its the process, not the product that matters most.

Remember to Breathe:

Your breath is always right here and right now. One of the simplest ways to improve focus is the pay attention to - and gain control over - your breath. Try for a whole minute to so doing nothing but pay attention to your breath. If you can do this the first time you try it, then you have much better attentiveness than most people. Gradually work your way up to three, then five or ten minutes. You will notice over time, that your breathing will become more controlled, even and calm. You  can do this several times a day, whenever you remember to. The longer you can do this, the more your ability to focus will improve-and your stress level will decrease.


Looking for more help with stress management? Our R.E.A.Ch™ program (Relaxation Education for Adults & Children) addresses both the underlying causes of stress, as well as simple, effective solutions. Find out more at: www.recprograms.com 


Related Articles:


Why Our Minds are Wired to Wander

Teach Kids to Daydream

18 Things Creative People Do Differently

Five Easy Ways to Improve Concentration Naturally




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