“I can’t seem to stay focused lately.”
“I get distracted even while I’m working.”
“I feel like I get tired more easily than I used to.”
Do you ever feel this way?
When they can’t stay focused, many people end up thinking, “Maybe my willpower is just weak.”
In reality, though, problems with focus can’t be explained by grit or determination alone.
In fact, it is said that today’s environment makes it harder than ever to sustain focus.
Human focus doesn’t last as long as we think
Recent research has shown that our attention shifts far more often than we imagine.
A Microsoft study reported that in digital environments, people’s attention can move to something else after about 40 seconds on average.
It is also said that when work is interrupted by email, chat or smartphone notifications, it can take more than 20 minutes to fully refocus on the original task.
In other words, trouble staying focused is not a sign of weak willpower; the characteristics of the human brain and today’s information environment play a big part.
The modern brain never stops working
From the moment we wake up until we go to sleep, we are surrounded by information.
Email, social media, news, videos, chat.
It has become the norm to look at a smartphone not only at work, but even while commuting or taking a break.
The brain is said to make up only about 2% of body weight, yet it consumes about 20% of the body’s total energy.
While using that much energy, it keeps processing information nonstop.
That is why states such as:
• A heavy head
• Fatigue that won’t go away
• Trouble collecting your thoughts
• Difficulty staying focused
• Not feeling refreshed even after sleeping
may be related to brain fatigue.
The brain seems to rest, but it doesn’t
“I take it easy on my days off, but I’m still tired.”
Have you ever experienced this?
In fact, the brain can keep working even while the body is resting.
When you keep scrolling on your smartphone on the sofa or watch social media and videos for hours, the brain continues processing information even though your body isn’t moving.
Simply continuing to think about work, relationships or the future also uses up the brain’s energy.
That is why many people find that brain fatigue builds up even before physical fatigue does.
Sometimes recovery matters more than boosting focus
When our focus slips,
“I need to try harder.”
“I need to pull myself together.”
we tend to think this way.
But just as top athletes prioritize recovery as well as training, time to recover is essential for sustaining high performance.
In fact, muscles grow not during training but during the recovery process.
The same is true of the brain.
Rather than keeping your foot on the accelerator all the time, consciously taking rest makes it easier to perform at your true level.
Make time to rest your mind
People today process a great deal of information every day, not only with their bodies but with their brains.
That is why we sometimes need time to put down the smartphone, step away from our worries and rest our minds.
In fact, guests who visit La HEAD have told us things like:
“For the first time in a long while, I could spend time without thinking about anything.”
“My head feels clearer.”
“I feel like it’s easier to concentrate.”
“Even my mood feels lighter.”
We are grateful to hear comments like these.
To keep doing your best, you also need to rest.
If you have been feeling lately that you can’t stay focused, it may not be a sign of weak willpower, but a sign that your brain is asking for rest.
Precisely because life is busy, why not make a conscious effort to set aside time to rest your mind?