Although they are often used interchangeably, focus should not be confused with concentration. Concentration is the act of devoting your attention to a particular stimulus. When you concentrate on a book, you filter out the noise around you and lose yourself in words. The focus is on discipline and willpower. You can decide where to put your attention. You decide to open the book and read it. You choose to concentrate on the book rather than the other stimuli in the room.
Here's "Why am I not focusing on work?" A list of possible answers to the question.
1. Sleep deprivation
Mental fatigue can cause brain fog and difficulty concentrating. Physical fatigue can have a similar effect. Your low energy level means you can't direct your will to the task at hand, so with the slightest distraction you'll let yourself be off track.
Lack of sleep is often a symptom of something deeper:
-chronic stress
-malnutrition
-physical conditions such as thyroid problems
-lack of exercise
2. A difficult private life
You also have a life outside of work. It's normal to feel tired at work when your personal life gets tough.
3. Don't try to do everything at once
Multitasking is tempting when you have a long to-do list. In reality, you're rapidly shifting your focus between each item your brain cells interpret as "multitasking."
4. Health
Lack of focus is a common symptom of a variety of physical and mental health conditions. Some mental health disorders that cause difficulty concentrating and lack of focus include:
-major depressive disorder
-anxiety disorder
-obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
-Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
-Some physical health medical conditions that can cause concentration problems include:
.insomnia disease
.Loss of memory
.chronic fatigue syndrome
.narcolepsy
.Hormonal imbalances
.Epilepsy
.restless legs syndrome
.Blood sugar imbalance/diabetes
.Blood pressure
5. Ask yourself the right questions
Your inability to focus can be a sign of fatigue, bad work habits, or an underlying health condition. Take this as an opportunity to control yourself. You may need to make some changes such as:
-Ask your boss for stress relief
-Create a better work-life balance
-Improve your time management skills
-Consult a mental health professional
-Address your bad sleep habits
-Create new life goals
Fixing your lack of focus will take some time and effort. But the first step is honesty. Once you acknowledge the problem, you can make a plan to address it. Now that you are aware of what causes a lack of focus at work, make Tappy Online Therapy a part of your journey. Through one-on-one sessions with our psychologists, you can discover a whole new level of "you" and overcome work stress.
