How to Tackle with the various Barriers that Prevent you from Focusing

How to Tackle with the various Barriers that Prevent you from Focusing

Various Factors that prevent you from Focusing and how to tackle each one

Various Barriers That Prevent You from Focusing and How to Tackle Each One

When it comes to trying to focus when you study, various factors such as distractions, lack of motivation, physical or mental fatigue, or disturbing thoughts can make focusing difficult. The ability to focus requires that you keep your attention solely focus on a specific task while blocking out other things that steal your attention. To focus better, I encourage that first figure out what’s causing you to be unfocused. Identify two to three main things and work out a solution for each one. Here are some tips for fighting various enemies that causes difficulty focusing.

1A. Distractions. Distractions can be anything that draws your attention away from the primary task of focus. For example, while trying to complete your readings for psychology, you find yourself browsing on the net or checking your emails. This is easily combated if you remove the internet by either not using your computer or turning off the internet connection. You might also want to try changing the environment such as studying at the library or coffee shop.

2A. Distressing/intrusive thoughts. If you are distracted because of bothering thoughts you have such as anxieties or worries then you might want to actively force those thoughts away. Thoughts are harder to overcome since they are inside your head unlike something physical where you can change or remove. If the thoughts are too bothering, you may want to try tackling those thoughts instead. Sometimes you have to deal with things that are bothering you first before you can focus on something else. Here, you could either write your thoughts down in a journal, talk to a friend or confident, seek professional help, or ask questions in a forum for advice.

3A. Procrastination. When it comes to procrastination, there could be many things that are making you procrastinate and some of the things are very similar to the things that are making you unfocused. So just like the steps to help you focus better, you first want to identify what is making you procrastinate. Is it distractions, bothering thoughts, lack of motivation, or lack of discipline (laziness?). There could be more than one main thing that is making you procrastinate. So after you identify the top ones, you work at a solution for them accordingly. For example, for myself, my top causes for procrastination are distractions and lack of motivation. I am distracted because of other things I could do on the web or habits that have while I am on the computer. Hence, I tackle that either by not going on the web or working at a library or coffee shop or late at night (when everyone else is asleep). For lack of motivation, it could be because I am not confident about how well I am going to perform or how to do something, I overcome that by disciplining myself to do work a little each day despite the fears or anxieties. Find out why you procrastinate and write down one or two solutions for each.

4A. Not being in the mood to study. When you are not in the mood to study, because you are tired, depressed or have other things on your mind, you can overcome that by either sleeping, napping, exercising, listening to certain music, watching your favorite shows, doing your favorite activity, talking to friends until you feel better. When you feel better, you naturally have more energy and feel more motivated to work. However, sometimes, you don’t really have time or chance to really work or ease yourself into a studying mood such as when you are approaching a deadline. Instead, you may have to take the cold hard approach by not complaining and just doing.

5A. Being uncertain about the purpose of what you’re doing. If you find it hard to focus because you don’t know how and if what you’re doing is going to contribute to your future, then you may want to further examine if your way of thinking is accurate. For example, if you feel that math is not going to help your future, then ask yourself why is it not going to help you in your future. If you feel the reasons justify your action not to do math, then you may want to consider dropping the course. You will be right in your decision. However, you may also want to ask yourself how math can contribute to your future. For me, I found that sometimes doing subjects you are not good at or see no obvious value in but you keep doing it teaches you discipline. A skill in life that matters more than what you’re doing. Math also helps you with developing abstract thinking. Hence, re-evaluate your actions and if the motivations justify your reasons then follow through with it.

6A. Having something else better to do. If you feel that there is something else more worthwhile to do, but you still have to get what you need get done done, then it comes down to a battle of discipline. Sometimes you have to set time aside to do what you are supposed to do over other things that you could be doing. However, back to point 5. If you feel that what you are doing will not contribute to your future, then you may want to reevaluate your action and not do them. Sometimes you have to make hard decisions to drop a course or change a subject when you know that you could be better off doing something else and you are not wrong.

7A. Getting Started. If you have trouble getting started, it could be a matter of lacking motivation or not being in the mood. Just like a sport, sometimes you don’t feel like getting started on a drill, but once you warm yourself up it becomes easier to get started. It’s a bit of disciplining yourself but also learning ways to ease yourself in the mindset of starting. For studying, a really useful tip I received for getting started was to tell yourself to do 5 minutes of something. When you do 5 minutes of reading or 5 minutes of doing questions, you find it easier to continue and do more than 5 minutes (the reason being you are now already in the mood). However if this still doesn’t work for you, then what you are doing is probably not motivating enough and you may really want to consider changing your career path or something else. Start and go all the way or not start at all.

8A. Lack of motivation. If you find it hard to focus because you don’t know if what you are doing serves any purpose, then you may want to reevaluate. If you feel that what you are asked to do lacks purpose or interest, then you may want to consider doing something else. If you feel that you’re lacking motivation because you’re simply lazy, then you may want to be more discipline. Discipline requires no thoughts just actions. Discipline doesn’t ask you to think if what you are doing has any meanings or not, it just wants you to get something done cause it must be done.

The list of things that get in your way of focusing could be endless. So depending on what’s keeping you from focusing (could be a lot of things that add up), you may want to find solutions that tackle each kind appropriately. Hope you guys find these tips helpful. Feel free to share your thoughts or questions or comments on this article and I will reply.