Internal Concentration Killers

4. Boredom

When tackling a long, dull job we will find our concentration drifting – looking for a stimulating distraction.  In her book Find Your Focus Zone: An Effective New Plan to Defeat Distraction and Overload Lucy Jo Palladino says this is an example of under-stimulation leading to inability to concentrate. 

This is when it’s OK to take on other tasks – in order to stimulate the brain and increase attention.  Gordon Logan, PhD, psychology professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn recommends working for short, intense periods, rewarding yourself with frequent breaks or other treats like a quick walk or a drink.

5. Worry and stress

It stands to reason that if half your mind is on other issues such as money or relationship worries, you’re not giving the task in hand your full attention. You’re also not solving your problems, so mentally resolve to give your full attention to your current task for now, and set about finding some solution to your problems afterwards, like talking to someone about it. 

Michael J. Baime, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and director of the Penn Program for Mindfulness also recommends meditation, as he says practitioners develop the ability to focus and ignore distractions.

6. Health issues

If we are unwell or in pain it is obviously harder to concentrate and sometimes it is not possible to wait until recovered.  Deal with short-term ailments yourself if possible, such as taking painkillers for headaches etc but seek professional help for anything of a long-term nature. And since prevention is always better than cure, safeguarding your health by eating well and exercising, could pay dividends in the long run. 

7. Medication

Some medications, particularly those for depression are known to affect the ability to concentrate.  If you think you may be affected speak to your doctor who may be able to prescribe an alternative, or suggest other therapy for your depression, such as talking therapies.

8. Hunger/poor nutrition

If we are hungry, or equally too full, it will affect our ability to concentrate but more than that, our general nutrition can have an effect too.   A study by Dr Rakesh Chandra from the Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada found that giving people over the age of 65 a supplement of vitamins and trace elementsimproved short-term memory, concentration and problem-solving skills.  

9. Fatigue

Although individual requirements for sleep vary enormously, Michael J.Baime comments: ‘Your attention falls apart when you’re sleep deprived’. Fatigue can also be associated with conditions like depression, or result from not regularly taking time off to ‘recharge the batteries’. 

10. Fighting your biorhythms

Most people are vaguely aware of being able to perform better at certain times of day.  This is down to our personal biorhythms and Daniel Kegan, PhD, JD, an organizational psychologist says it is best to

So now decide what’s your concentration killer and deal with it today.