Finding Your Focus Despite Daily Distractions

Even those without ADHD can have their attention overstimulated and challenged by all sorts of daily distractions. Our brains and mind-body-spirit connection have more power over our lives than we sometimes realize.

Here are some tools, tips and techniques to try to help you keep your calm, maintain your concentration, and stay focused on your busy life. The more you exercise and practice this, like a muscle, the stronger you’ll be at not letting those daily ubiquitous distractions deter you from who and what you want to be focusing on or the task at hand.

How effectively can a building be constructed without a blueprint or a business without a business plan? Integrate your plan and planning into your daily routines, review your goals and remind yourself of your mission and vision. Stay better on course by charting your course along the way. It may take some reassessing and refocusing, so do a much needed “refresh” like you would your browser after it times out.

Take 5, 10, or 15 with some R & R and deep breathing. As hard as we may work and as productive as we may want to be, we have to remember we’re humans, not robots. Even if you’re like the Energizer Bunny, we all need to recharge our batteries to keep going. Sometimes it’s important to take a break, have a change of scenery, and physically and mentally step away from the task at hand before coming back to it.

If you’re having a difficult time just getting back into the mental state of continuing to work on a project, set the worries aside. They can easily become blockages that obstruct your path from proceeding.

Instead, focus your mind and energy around the positive aspects that you want to achieve and the feelings you have in the process of achieving them. It should feel good and rewarding. Be your own cheerleader and encourage yourself. You’re further along than you were just mere seconds ago and you’re making progress, no matter how slowly it may seem.

Before you get too thoroughly invested in something or someone, consider the pros versus cons. Worth your time, money, and energy? Do the pros outweigh the cons?

And consider risks versus rewards. There may be risks involved, but some are worth taking and the more you concentrate on the rewards and positive reinforcement, generally the better outcome you’ll have.

Treat yourself to something healthy (and yummy to your tummy) when you’ve accomplished something. Baby steps can add up into gigantic strides and eventually cover miles and miles of ground. Also, chart and document your progress along the way. Snap a few behind the scenes pics and share via social media or just to review later and reflect on.

Once you’ve prioritized what and who to focus on, such as the top 3 items, factoring in time sensitivity/urgency/deadlines and meaningfulness/importance, congratulate yourself. You’ve already accomplished a lot more than you think by figuring and plotting out your direction.

Clear the clutter and create a cleaner environment. A tidier, more controlled (and more breathable – plants are always welcome) work and living space will help you re-center and refocus.

Energy work (like qigong and reiki) and essential oils can soothe your senses and improve your mental clarity. Clearing your energy and removing blockages can make a world of difference in the way you feel and think. Your mind, body, and spirit will be more aligned and you’ll be able to improve your concentration.

Simply breathing in a few whiffs of pure essential oils can have health benefits and help you concentrate while boosting your cognition. Maximize your aromatherapy experience with a massage (even a 5 minute DIY massage) with essential oils added to carrier oils like fractionated coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, and jojoba oil. Utilize reflexology by massaging hands, feet, ears, scalp, neck, shoulders, or full body.

For energizing and awakening effects, try eucalyptus, rosemary, mints (peppermint and spearmint) and citrus (lemon and orange). For relaxing and calming effects, try lavender, chamomile, ylang ylang, and jasmine. For grounding and centering effects, try cedarwood, sage, patchouli, and sandalwood.

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Susan B. B. Schabacker

Susan B. B. Schabacker is a proud writer, team member, and fan of Forsyth Magazines and writes multiple articles every month for Forsyth Woman and Forsyth Family. She loves writing and is also pleased and honored to write for National Geographic and National Geographic Kids. Susan is a co-author of a children’s book, Huckleberry Robin, based on a three-generation true family story and hopes to write more children’s books. Susan is also a local singer/songwriter/musician (and aspiring artist) working on recording her third album about COVID-19 (Coronavirus), called Beyond the Virus, that has become both a local and international collaboration. Currently, she lives in the Winston-Salem, Piedmont Triad area of NC, where she has resided for over 20 years. Susan graduated with a B.A. in Corporate Communications and a minor in dance from Elon University. She has had the opportunity to travel internationally to Budapest, Hungary for classical ballet, when she attended UNCSA (University of North Carolina School of the Arts); London, UK; and Beijing, China, where she studied abroad through Elon University. In Stockholm, Sweden, she had a marketing internship at Hachette-Filipacchi, publisher of Elle and other magazines. She also had another marketing internship in London with the Bramah Museum of Tea. Susan is the founder, owner, and master tea blender of a local tea business, Tea-lation! (@Tealation on FB + IN), which she has designed ads for in Forsyth Woman. She hopes to share her love for life + teas and encourages everyone to share, sip, and savor their cuppa happy! Susan looks forward to writing more articles and books and embarking on a long and successful career in music. Susan’s other passions include: photography (@SBBSPhotography on FB + IN), acting, cooking, and arts + crafts.

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