In a world like today’s where multitasking, the internet, social networking and mobile technology are the order of the day, it’s no wonder that lack of concentration is a common problem. Now more than ever we are tempted to be distracted by multiple objects and activities that take us away from what is really important or, at the very least, from what we need to focus on. As we know, concentration is that, the cognitive ability to maintain focus on something and is as important as memory, reasoning or analysis.

Concentration problems can occur in both adults and children and can have a variety of causes, some of which are more serious than others because of all that they entail. Let’s take a closer look at the possible origins of the lack of concentration, as proposed by Healthy Howard:

 

Some possible causes of concentration problems:

De-motivation: For many children it is very common not to pay attention in the classroom and it is understandable. In addition to the fact that it takes more time than it does for an adult to stay alert for long periods of time, they are also often discouraged because educational models are not aligned with their interests. The same can happen with an adult, whose work is routine and makes him feel stuck. It is best to engage in activities that arouse the interest of the person involved.

 

Exhaustion: There is nothing worse for concentration than poor sleep, as it directly affects it. It is during the hours of rest that the nervous system benefits in order to function properly.

Stress and worry: When we are stressed, worried or nervous our thoughts accelerate, causing a state of anxiety where we can hardly concentrate on any task.
Sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits: Both are enemies of concentration, contributing to impaired brain capacities and robbing the brain of energy that could be used in concentration and other mental abilities.

Drug use: Some drugs or medications can significantly decrease the concentration due to their doping or stimulant effects, as the case may be.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): This is a disorder whose main sign is inattention. Children with ADHD are easily distracted and often do not complete any tasks. If they are hyperactive at the same time, they have nervous and impulsive behavior.

Depression: Depression limits the will to act and produces a severe demotivation that affects the ability to concentrate in general. The person gets into a state of mind and is unable to stay focused on any activity.

Distractions: Being attached to the Smartphone (all smartphones – JohnAlexPro.com) or other electronic devices, doing everything with the TV on and living in noisy spaces could be factors that prevent full concentration.

There are other causes of concentration problems, we have only mentioned the most common ones. When there is an alarming lack of concentration, it is important to see a specialist doctor for diagnosis and treatment, if necessary. However, nowadays, it is common to lose concentration due to excessive distractions in daily life.

For these cases it is recommended to do exercises, sleep well, meditate or practice mindfulness, visualize, write by hand, read, plan, create a harmonious environment and avoid distractions when we need to complete an important task. You can apply these recommendations and see if you can be more focused, you will surely see an improvement soon.