Are you finding it difficult to focus lately? Can’t concentrate on your work? Perhaps you are mid-task and find yourself looking out the office window. Maybe you even forget what you were supposed to be doing? We all go through periods where we struggle to focus and concentrate. The key to overcoming this is to answer the question “Why do I get distracted easily?” in the first place. Read on for some of the most common reasons, including health issues, and how to focus like you once did.
Your Emotions Get in the Way
Our emotional state has a massive impact on the quality of our concentration levels and, in turn, the results that we can attain. Your performance will suffer if you work in an environment that is low on trust and driven by fear. However, if fear is low and trust is high, you have the opportunity to thrive.
Thus, you need to understand your personal psychology and your emotions to regain a sharp focus. How can you inject some positive emotion into your day? Determine the answer to boost your engagement levels.
You No Longer Feel in Control
Again you ask yourself, Why do I get distracted easily?
It is easy to feel like you have lost control in many different areas of your life. Once you start to lose structure and focus, you may fall behind on tasks and find yourself spiraling out of control in the workplace. Because of this, your focus only gets worse and worse, especially as you do not even know what you are supposed to focus on anymore.
You need to take a step back and take more control. Create a schedule to improve your work routine. Prioritize your work tasks and your personal ones too. Get your life in order, and you will find that how to focus naturally becomes easier. You will likely find an added benefit is better communication in business and within the home.
Lack of Energy
You cannot focus if you do not have any energy. And your focus may simply be fading because your energy supply is low. This is a health problem. So don’t reach for a quick fix like a chocolate bar or a sugary energy drink.
A better alternative is to seek out healthy sources of energy and start thinking about how you invest your energy. Are you spending energy on worthwhile tasks at work and home? Or are you only spinning your wheels?
Medical Reasons
There could be medical reasons to explain why do I get distracted easily? A good example of this is a leaky gut.
How this condition shows itself can differ from person to person because poor gut health creates imbalances in your gut microbiome. This health issue leads to weight gain, but also it can cause mood issues and fatigue.
And, yes, you guessed it; one of the symptoms is trouble with focus and memory. Hence, to fix the problem of how to focus properly, it is always a good idea to determine whether it stems from a different medical issue. It may surprise you just how interconnected health problems can be and how they show themselves in many different ways within the body.
How to Focus When Your Day has No Structure
The final reason that you may not be able to concentrate is that your day does not have any structure. Structure refers to:
- How you shape your day,
- The amount of flexibility you have,
- The plans you make,
- Which tasks do you take on and give to others,
- What your priorities are,
- The breaks and hours you keep,
- Which filing system do you use,
- The rules you follow, and
- What boundaries do you create
This list goes on, and when you do not have any structure in your day, chaos reigns. This happening, unfortunately, makes how focus virtually impossible to achieve.
Why Do I Get Distracted Easily?
Hopefully, you now have the answer to why do I get distracted easily? Try the advice above and see if you can concentrate better.
Don’t be hard on yourself as you are not the only one to go through this. Having periods of low concentration happens at some point in life to most people. To overcome it involves simply putting forward an effort to learn how to focus more effectively. Consequently, you will notice a difference that enables you to work more effectively.
Great article Christy! I was thinking that sometimes we can get used to functioning in a less than optimal manner, for example poor focus. It’s important to be reminded that we can do better, and you’ve really explained some potential culprits in this post.
Thanks for the reminders!
I’m so glad you found the value in this post, BJ! Have a terrific weekend ahead.
Great tips Christy. Sometimes, I just need a good sleep and a strong discipline for myself.
I hope you get more sleep soon, Thelma
Great advice, Christy! I’m sure you pointed out the root of the problem for many of us. Stress, exhaustion, problems at home, problems with coworkers/bosses, etc., can all cause problems with focus and concentration. I know from personal experience!
I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves and part of it is having trouble saying “no” to requests to help others.. Ack, the days fly by sometimes! Thank you, Amy, for your great comment here.
Great thoughts, Christy. Energy and structure… lather, rinse, repeat! Working from home is amazing but you really have to work at structuring your days well!!
I’m loving your positive presence here :)
Excellent tips.
Christy, I love this post. May I reblog this one? I feel like I ask that a lot lol. ❤
Of course you can, Samantha! Feel free to reblog <3 Thanks for asking
Darn that window!!! A post many will appreciate, including me!
Nice post Christy,
probably it is connected with reason number 3,because everything starts with our energy. Thank you
I knew you’d pick up on the part about energy, Ben! Thanks for being here.
I’m pretty sure I just need more sleep!
I definitely can relate to the “unstructure day” factor. I am yet to start my teaching job in May so each day is a struggle for me to find productive things to do to pass time. Initially, I just wake up and then have many moments thinking “what can I do?” which led me to shift from one activity to another. Eventually, what I did was to get my day organized by listing a rough timeline of my day the night before. And it definitely helped me.
Thanks for this post! I also didn’t know that the gut microbiome can affect a person’s focus. :)
It sounds like this post came at a great time for you! That makes me happy :)
This is so helpful! I think the medical issues one is so true and overlooked!
Your timing is perfect, Christy. I’ve definitely had trouble maintaining my focus these days. Thanks! <3
Valuable pieces of advise, Christy. I certainly can stray off my tasks for many reasons. I notice that habit is a good thing, when it comes to stay focus. When I have been in a good period of continuous working, it’s easier to stay focused.
Thank you kindly for your words here and I hope you have a productive weekend, Otto! :)
Several studies have shown that dehydration is a factor in lack of focus and memory issues. Unfortunately many workers don’t have the opportunity to drink water at their jobs, much less enough bathroom breaks! Exercise and drinking enough water help many situations.
Thank you adding about the dehydration factor, Mary Jo! PS I appreciate your support very much.
Thanks, Christy! I needed this! :)
I’m humbled by your comment –>> HUGS
Great advice, thank you!! :)
thank u so much for this super cool post.
much needed rn