(1/2) Lately, I've been having a lot of trouble focusing. I feel like I can't even watch TV unless I'm very very lazy, or busy. I feel like I always have to keep myself busy, and my attention span is really short. It depends, because sometimes it's really bad an I stop in the middle of my sentences and completely blank and other times it's not even noticeable and I can be a normal person and not get so distracted. Even at school I'm like this. I tend to zone out a lot. I'm a good student, too...
(2/2) ... And I love to take notes in class. But I'm so busy taking notes that I can't hear what the teacher is saying anymore, or I zone out on instructions. I'm always the last to finish tests. Today, I was explaining a movie plot to my mom and had a 45 second pause mid sentence because I heard music playing softly on the radio and my mom had to help me remember what I was even talking about. Do you have any tips? I don't really know why it's getting so bad an noticeable all of a sudden.
I get this way a lot during the school year. I can’t focus unless I really focus on focusing, and it gives me a headache. It’s the worst! I can’t even watch tv unless I’m playing a game at the same time, which sounds odd but yup!
Focusing is really tough, and if you find that its really hurting your daily life, I would try talking to a doctor or psychologist about it, since they might have more answers than I. a lot of people without diagnosed disorders have trouble focusing though so its usually nothing to worry about!
When talking to others, think or plan what you are going to say (if you can) so you’ll remember what you have to say, and you have to focus on it so you don’t forget! Another strategy I use is taking breaks in homework. You can work your way up to longer periods of working, but I try to do work for 20 minutes and then take a 5 minute break to derp around a little before getting back to focus. It’s a bargin too, saying you’ll do a certain amount of work in order to have a break! Any kind of reward for focusing a certain amount of time will really help!
Caffiene also helps me stay focused because my mind doesn’t lazily wander that way. Its nice (in moderation) to be awake and focused for a short while even can be nice.
I hope this helps! Counselors and therapists can also help with this as well!