The point is, I’ve dealt with my fair share of attention issues, and they’ve haunted my life at times. Deadlines can make my body feel like it’s being chased by a tiger. Sometimes, a deadline glues me to a task; other times, I become stressed out, my eyes shut down, and my mind wanders with a burning desire to do literally anything besides the task at hand. You might be asking yourself what is wrong with me? as you read the page of your book three times before you can actually comprehend the information, or your cursor blinks what feels like a million times before you can get yourself to type just one sentence. The truth is this: Lack of focus is a reality for a lot of people. Whether the phrase why can’t I focus? keeps bouncing around your mind or you just need some quick tips to help you write that paper due at midnight, we’ve put together the perfect advice from experts to help get you back on track. Things that could be affecting your ability to concentrate include lack of restful sleep, hunger, thirst, poor stress management, and even suboptimal gut health. If any of these are off, it’s very common to experience an inability to focus. Taking care of your basic needs can ensure you have the best chances of completing your tasks efficiently and effectively. In today’s sensory-filled world, it’s so easy to have difficulty focusing. “Lack of focus can be a byproduct of our digital age when adults are spending four hours a day on their phones and using social media—which is designed to stimulate attention for short periods, habituating us to focus for short periods,” says Sachs. So many different things are begging for our attention. The interconnectedness of our society makes new and exciting information available constantly. And with new information comes the stress of dealing with, thinking about, and being introduced to new issues every time a notification pops up on your phone. Sachs suggests seeing a health care provider if your struggle to focus is significantly affecting your daily life—like your personal relationships or ability to complete work for school or your job. When your inability to focus is paired with a lack of motivation, unusual tiredness, or difficulty getting restful sleep, it may be a good idea to let your doctor know. Seeing a health care provider about an inability to focus can be a good step to improving your daily life. “As being unable to focus is merely a side effect, knowing the origin of the cause is essential to improve focus,” says clinical psychologist Janina Elbert, Ph.D. If you can’t focus right now, try pouring yourself a big glass of water or other hydrating beverage—for extra stimulation, try very cold or flavored water. Other immediate remedies could include taking a nap or eating a snack. In just one capsule, this optimized complex harnesses the unique power of six ingredients that support the energy of our cells, mind, and body: instant caffeine from whole coffee fruit, sustained-release caffeine from green coffee beans, Panax ginseng root, guarana seed, L-theanine, and vitamin B12 (in its bioactive methylcobalamin form, mind you).* If Mario Kart isn’t your style, not to fear—any background music of your choice will do! A 2021 study from Psychological Research found that listening to preferred background music enhances a task-focused attentional state1. So, it doesn’t matter if you’re listening to Mozart, Adele, EDM, Marvel film scores, or Mario Kart—as long as it helps you focus, it’s the right music style to optimize your overall productivity. At the end of the day, the inability to focus is the body’s way of telling us a need isn’t being met and something needs to change. All you can do is respect those needs and set up your own system of fulfilling them so everyday life can be a little bit easier.
