Lack of Concentration: 4 Common Causes

Does your mind wander a lot even when you have a ton of tasks on your plate? (Perhaps I should rephrase that and say “especially when you have a ton of tasks on your plate.”) Do you find yourself having to struggle because of lack of concentration? You are not alone in this. There are many people who suffer from lack of concentration. Some recognize the problem, but do not know what to do to solve it. Others may not really realize that they have that problem. If you are reading this, then perhaps you are on your way to tackling this common issue that people today face.

The first step is to pinpoint the causes of your lack of concentration. Here are your life tips for today – common causes of lack of concentration and what you can do about them.

Do you get enough sleep?

It seems that more and more people are having sleep-deprivation issues these days. This could be due to a number of reasons, but in many cases, it’s a mere lifestyle issue. If you find your mind going all over the place during the day, check your sleeping habits. How many hours of sleep do you get each night? Do you sleep at the same time every night? Do you feel energized in the morning? No matter how much of a night owl you are, if you do not get enough sleep, your concentration will suffer. If you determine that you are not getting enough sleep, better make some changes. If health problems are the cause of lack of sleep, then go seek medical help.

How much technology are you exposed to?

Ah, technology. It can be a bane and a boon at the same time. How can we live without the technological devices that we have? Off the top of your head, you’d probably say there is no way. If you think about it, though, too much technology (or the use of it) can be the cause of your distraction. Look at your desktop – what applications are running at the moment? How many cell phones do you have in your workstation? How many other gadgets are you using? If you’re running instant messengers, several browser windows, etc., then the chances are technology is getting in the way. If you are trying to get work done, try to shut down all the unnecessary things. Check Facebook only once or twice a day. Don’t log in to your instant messenger unless necessary. Turn your phone/s on silent. Get the picture?

How often do you exercise?

Ouch! Exercise is not something that everyone likes. Indeed, it can be a pain in the butt for some people. We cannot discount the fact, however, that exercise brings a lot of benefits. Studies have consistently shown that exercise makes people “happier” – in a better mood, if you will. Some studies also show that moderate exercise help increase brain functions.

So how much physical exercise have you had in the past month? If you are living a sedentary lifestyle, maybe you ought to consider getting off your butt and get that blood flowing every now and then.

How are your stress levels?

Stress, good old stress. It seems to be part of our lives, doesn’t it? But you have to remember that being constantly stressed will bring nothing good. Yes, you love your job. Yes, you are a responsible parent/spouse/child. Still, you have to have time to release all the stress that your responsibilities bring. Otherwise, the stress will just build up and blow up in your face. Take the time to relax – take care of yourself.

Take note that these causes are rather general. There might be specific reasons that differ from one person to another. What you ought to do is to take a bit of time to analyze what these specific reasons may be, and start doing something about them! Pretty soon, you will get your focused groove back.

Photo via Rennett Stowe