Hey, Listen Up: Why Can't You Concentrate?
In today's busy world, many people feel like they can't keep track of what's going on amid all the hubbub.
Everyone has days when they slack off at work or forget appointments. Misplacing your keys, not being able to avoid YouTubing to keep from putting that spreadsheet together, daydreaming during important conversations - all of these things can be pretty normal for busy people. But for some adults, they may actually indicate the chronic, debilitating inattentiveness of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There are an increasing number of adults being diagnosed at around age 38, right at the time people begin multitasking more, and juggling their families, jobs, and personal obligations. However, not everyone who has trouble concentrating has ADHD. There are plenty of other things that might be sucking your attention dry.
Stress Overload
People often blame all sorts of ailments on stress, and lack of concentration is a big one. Stress actually affects the cognitive centers of your brain-the areas that you rely on for fast, sharp thinking. So, when you're stressed out, that anxiety makes it even harder to focus. Researchers studying at the University of Wisconsin found that meditation can be very helpful in blocking out distractions. A study done at UCLA suggested that even in adults with ADHD, meditation can improve attention and focus, while easing symptoms of depression and anxiety. If stress is making distraction or inattention so bad that it's affecting your job, school, or relationships, it may be time to see a doctor for suggestions or medical treatment.
Not Enough Exercise
There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that engaging in regular exercise can help keep your mind clear and sharp, and increase memory and learning capacity, no matter what your age. Exercise is even more critical in adults with ADHD, because they are already battling mental restlessness, and lack of exercise just compounds that. Patients report that when they exercise, they see an improvement in their attention and focus levels. Working up a sweat also helps to burn off any extra energy you have that might cause you to feel anxious and fidgety, which will help you sleep better at night. If you have a hard time sitting still and constantly feel like you have to get up and move around, or if you find yourself exercising too much just to keep from feeling restless, then it's time to see a doctor to find out what's going on and how he or she can help.
Not Enough Sheep Counting
One of the most obvious reasons for people not being able to concentrate is feeling tired. But feeling tired because of staying up late to watch a movie, or feeling tired because you had to get up early to catch a flight are perfectly normal reasons to be tired. However, if you go to bed at a reasonable time and sleep until the alarm goes off and you still wake up feeling irritable or mentally foggy, then you're not getting good sleep. If you are often moody or unfocused, you may have an undiagnosed sleep disorder, or you may just need help from a doctor who specializes in sleep, who can give you tips for proper sleep hygiene. For adults who have ADHD, not getting enough sleep can drastically worsen symptoms, and just taking more naps or sleeping longer, may not eliminate the problems. If you think you're not getting quality sack time, see a doctor for a sleep study.
Too Much Technology
In today's fast-paced, high-tech world, everything is constantly competing for your attention-the phone, your computer, your iPod, your BlackBerry, your pager, and even real people face to face. No wonder you can't concentrate! Your brain can act as a filter or your secretary, to a certain point, to keep you organized and help out with managing your time. But the more multitasking you task yourself with, the more difficult it will be to stay focused on a single task. Lack of focus can be greatly improved by learning basic organizational skills, such as maintaining a day planner or writing lists of responsibilities. One very good thing that can help is to simply take a break from technology. Turn off the television, turn off the computer, and just read a book or listen to music for a calm, peaceful interlude after dinner or before bed. If you can remember a time as an adult when you weren't consistently pulled away from things and not being able to get back into them, then you can get back to that freedom by removing yourself from technology for a break now and then to let your mind clear.
There are many reasons in today's world for why an adult might have trouble concentrating, and these are only a few. If you've tried to figure out what's going on, attempted remedies, made changes to your lifestyle, and still have problems focusing, it may be a good idea to talk with your doctor or a therapist to see if there are other remedies you can try. Don't let life pass you by and leave you in a constant mental haze if there's something you can do about it.
Stress Overload
People often blame all sorts of ailments on stress, and lack of concentration is a big one. Stress actually affects the cognitive centers of your brain-the areas that you rely on for fast, sharp thinking. So, when you're stressed out, that anxiety makes it even harder to focus. Researchers studying at the University of Wisconsin found that meditation can be very helpful in blocking out distractions. A study done at UCLA suggested that even in adults with ADHD, meditation can improve attention and focus, while easing symptoms of depression and anxiety. If stress is making distraction or inattention so bad that it's affecting your job, school, or relationships, it may be time to see a doctor for suggestions or medical treatment.
Not Enough Exercise
There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that engaging in regular exercise can help keep your mind clear and sharp, and increase memory and learning capacity, no matter what your age. Exercise is even more critical in adults with ADHD, because they are already battling mental restlessness, and lack of exercise just compounds that. Patients report that when they exercise, they see an improvement in their attention and focus levels. Working up a sweat also helps to burn off any extra energy you have that might cause you to feel anxious and fidgety, which will help you sleep better at night. If you have a hard time sitting still and constantly feel like you have to get up and move around, or if you find yourself exercising too much just to keep from feeling restless, then it's time to see a doctor to find out what's going on and how he or she can help.
Not Enough Sheep Counting
One of the most obvious reasons for people not being able to concentrate is feeling tired. But feeling tired because of staying up late to watch a movie, or feeling tired because you had to get up early to catch a flight are perfectly normal reasons to be tired. However, if you go to bed at a reasonable time and sleep until the alarm goes off and you still wake up feeling irritable or mentally foggy, then you're not getting good sleep. If you are often moody or unfocused, you may have an undiagnosed sleep disorder, or you may just need help from a doctor who specializes in sleep, who can give you tips for proper sleep hygiene. For adults who have ADHD, not getting enough sleep can drastically worsen symptoms, and just taking more naps or sleeping longer, may not eliminate the problems. If you think you're not getting quality sack time, see a doctor for a sleep study.
Too Much Technology
In today's fast-paced, high-tech world, everything is constantly competing for your attention-the phone, your computer, your iPod, your BlackBerry, your pager, and even real people face to face. No wonder you can't concentrate! Your brain can act as a filter or your secretary, to a certain point, to keep you organized and help out with managing your time. But the more multitasking you task yourself with, the more difficult it will be to stay focused on a single task. Lack of focus can be greatly improved by learning basic organizational skills, such as maintaining a day planner or writing lists of responsibilities. One very good thing that can help is to simply take a break from technology. Turn off the television, turn off the computer, and just read a book or listen to music for a calm, peaceful interlude after dinner or before bed. If you can remember a time as an adult when you weren't consistently pulled away from things and not being able to get back into them, then you can get back to that freedom by removing yourself from technology for a break now and then to let your mind clear.
There are many reasons in today's world for why an adult might have trouble concentrating, and these are only a few. If you've tried to figure out what's going on, attempted remedies, made changes to your lifestyle, and still have problems focusing, it may be a good idea to talk with your doctor or a therapist to see if there are other remedies you can try. Don't let life pass you by and leave you in a constant mental haze if there's something you can do about it.
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