Need help with concentration, staying focused and mental calmness.

[Lone Deranger]

I've become increasingly aware that my ability of concentration and focus is a big problem in my life.
Even from early childhood I've been told I get distracted too often and too easily. It is affecting not only my work, but also my hobbies, household chores, paperwork, etc.

When I finally have some free time to do some personal art work (I'm a painter/artist/illustrator by trade), it has gotten so bad that I've hardly been able to even start a new piece.
Constantly changing my mind about what idea I should invest my time in and thus not ever really finishing much of anything. It is incredibly frustrating to say the least.

Do you suffer from this problem too? How do you cope with it? What can be done to improve this? Closing my social media accounts might be a good start, but how can I calm my mind?

I'm looking for some advice because I have to change this somehow.

 

[iOSGoober]

With absolute sincerity, seek professional medical advice. Whilst you may find some informed opinions on a forum, chances are that no matter how well meaning any response you may receive, it will likely be useless at best for you personally. It could even be destructive.

Speak with your doctor first and go from there. There are probably many treatment options available, both with and without medication. Good luck!

 

[amgff84]

Bump to the previous advice. However, I wish you luck!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I've become increasingly aware that my ability of concentration and focus is a big problem in my life.
Even from early childhood I've been told I get distracted too often and too easily. It is affecting not only my work, but also my hobbies, household chores, paperwork, etc.

When I finally have some free time to do some personal art work (I'm a painter/artist/illustrator by trade), it has gotten so bad that I've hardly been able to even start a new piece.
Constantly changing my mind about what idea I should invest my time in and thus not ever really finishing much of anything. It is incredibly frustrating to say the least.

Do you suffer from this problem too? How do you cope with it? What can be done to improve this? Closing my social media accounts might be a good start, but how can I calm my mind?

I'm looking for some advice because I have to change this somehow.

When I am working on anything, - that is, seriously working on anything and wish to be able to concentrate and focus, my marked (and very clear) preferences are silence and solitude. And setting boundaries - in space (this room is private while I am in it) and time (do not disturb me - for anything - for the following two hours).

Silence means TV on in the background, no radio chat shows, and no social media. No phones, iPhones, Twitter, FB, or other such nonsense while you work. Turn them off. No conversation.

Occasionally, I can tolerate a small amount of Baroque or easy instrumental music (gentle jazz) as background easing myself into work, or writing private emails, but for serious work my marked preference is for silence.

And solitude. Blessed solitude, which allows the space for just you and your work, and your mind and your imagination and your focus. (And whatever deadline you may face).

That means nobody else in the room - a space of your own in which to work. No spouse, friends, colleagues, partners, significant other, cats, dogs, children allowed anywhere near you will you work.

I am of the opinion that open plan offices are the spawn of Satan, noisy, distracting, and an utter and total and completely unwelcome nuisance.

So, you need to prioritise space, solitude, and silence. And time.

That means making the time to do what you want to do, - doing nothing else - and ruthlessly policing it.

 

[Huntn]

@Lone Deranger, try meditation which might help calm you and achieve focus, 20 min a day. There are free apps.
Existing discussion: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/does-anyone-here-meditate.187537/

 

[a2jack]

Unless your doc is a personal friend, the medical cartel will only take your money (and/or the insurance co's money) this makes some people fell better.

I am experiencing varying degrees of what you are going through as I age. It comes and goes. I will be reaching "techie/artie middle age" next year. LOL

Your possible steps are as outlined by 'Scepticalscribe' above. This stuff has worked for me.

I would also add a hard backed note pad to serve as your short term memory bank,
here's mine.

Good luck, and hang in wth us. a2

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Unless your doc is a personal friend, the medical cartel will only take your money (and/or the insurance co's money) this makes some people fell better.

I am experiencing varying degrees of what you are going through as I age. It comes and goes. I will be reaching "techie/artie middle age" next year. LOL

Your possible steps are as outlined by 'Scepticalscribe' above. This stuff has worked for me.

I would also add a hard backed note pad to serve as your short term memory bank,
here's mine.

Good luck, and hang in wth us. a2

An excellent suggestion, to think of using an actual, hard backed note pad; for what it is worth, I use one all of the time, and and it an excellent way of ordering my thoughts, as the actual act of physically writing things down - not via a keyboard, but with pen and paper - helps focus my mind and thoughts.

 

[a2jack]

And here is my note pad. LOL a2

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I tend to use a German note pad, the Leuchtturm1917, - which is A5 size and which I find excellent.

In fact, I buy a few of them at a time, as I find them so useful and well made. The paper used is also of an exceptionally high quality, as well.

 

[amgff84]

When I am working on anything, - that is, seriously working on anything and wish to be able to concentrate and focus, my marked (and very clear) preferences are silence and solitude. And setting boundaries - in space (this room is private while I am in it) and time (do not disturb me - for anything - for the following two hours).

Silence means TV on in the background, no radio chat shows, and no social media. No phones, iPhones, Twitter, FB, or other such nonsense while you work. Turn them off. No conversation.

Occasionally, I can tolerate a small amount of Baroque or easy instrumental music (gentle jazz) as background easing myself into work, or writing private emails, but for serious work my marked preference is for silence.

And solitude. Blessed solitude, which allows the space for just you and your work, and your mind and your imagination and your focus. (And whatever deadline you may face).

That means nobody else in the room - a space of your own in which to work. No spouse, friends, colleagues, partners, significant other, cats, dogs, children allowed anywhere near you will you work.

I am of the opinion that open plan offices are the spawn of Satan, noisy, distracting, and an utter and total and completely unwelcome nuisance.

So, you need to prioritise space, solitude, and silence. And time.

That means making the time to do what you want to do, - doing nothing else - and ruthlessly policing it.

I can agree with this. Lately, I've been... Just odd. I guess not myself. I have been through the ringer the past year after losing my job of almost 10 years in the fire protection industry. I am a volunteer firefighter, and I worked as an inspector for a fire protection company. after finally getting promotions, I was fired with no reason given after a new co-owner took partial control over the company. Since then I have had terrible luck with slimy people, in seemingly normal companies. I've worked my butt off for the past 5 years completing my degree and taking care of the kids and a house.

I'm exhausted. Bored. Just run down. However, I am taking a break from the hectic life I once lived. I am working part (almost full) time and getting back into something I really enjoyed, which was manufacturing. I went to school to be a toolmaker years ago, and for now, I'm just doing something I love. I plan on doing this until I can put my degree to use, but who knows what the future holds, as I am working for a start - up manufacturer.

I ended up connecting with an old friend who started his own company, and they just started taking off and need someone with my organizational and operational skillset. It's hard to trust anyone anymore, so I take things one day at a time. I put my best foot forward and do my job, and I keep my expectations low.

So, maybe the best thing for you, and take what I say with a grain of salt, and I hold no responsibility for your actions, but maybe you should step back and just take some time for yourself. For me, computers are relaxing and fun. So I look for old junk computers and restore them, as a hobby and therapy. Maybe because you work with computers often, try a new hobby? There are endless opportunities.

I would also seek some advice from your doctor, as that is the only advice that can be medically beneficial and official.

I WISH YOU THE BEST.

 

[user_xyz]

I've become increasingly aware that my ability of concentration and focus is a big problem in my life.
Even from early childhood I've been told I get distracted too often and too easily. It is affecting not only my work, but also my hobbies, household chores, paperwork, etc.

When I finally have some free time to do some personal art work (I'm a painter/artist/illustrator by trade), it has gotten so bad that I've hardly been able to even start a new piece.
Constantly changing my mind about what idea I should invest my time in and thus not ever really finishing much of anything. It is incredibly frustrating to say the least.

Do you suffer from this problem too? How do you cope with it? What can be done to improve this? Closing my social media accounts might be a good start, but how can I calm my mind?

I'm looking for some advice because I have to change this somehow.

I was the same way.

I used Discipline, Practice and Positive Affirmations.

Stick to it-It takes time and patience.

Good Luck!!

 

[Gutwrench]

I've become increasingly aware that my ability of concentration and focus is a big problem in my life.

Do you suffer from this problem too? How do you cope with it?

Yes, and it feels to have gotten worse particularly in the last few years. To compensate I’ve felt I’ve always had to work harder than others to be equal. It’s exhausting. No advice, just adding my voice to yours.

 

[jagolden]

IOSGoober, the first poster to answer, has given you the best advice. Get professional help to deal with the causes. Don’t pay attention to the advice that only treats the symptoms.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I think part of the reason for this problem is that we have created an "always-on" society, one where news services, some other goods and services, telephones (not to mention mobile phones/cell phones) are on, 24/7.

Twenty - or thirty - years ago, TV stations shut down at midnight, or shortly after, unless they were broadcasting a special movie, or broadcasting over a holiday period.

Bosses knew that the work day finished when you clocked off, or quit the office at five or six in the evening, or when your shift came to an end.

Friends knew not to phone you after 10.30 (22.30) at night unless something really awful, or dramatic, or urgent had happened.

You weren't expected to be alert, available, or accessible at all hours of the day. Consequently, there were periods of the day (and week, and year) when you could reasonably be expected to "switch off" - or switch to a lower state of readiness - and not be as available or accessible to others, be they friends, family or your professional colleagues or bosses.

Social media - because of the addictive and intrusive nature of how much social media is constructed, predicated as it is on one's reaction and response to those who contact you, or connect with you - seems to have increased impatience and reduced the capacity of some individuals to concentrate on something for extended periods of time.

I think that humans weren't designed to be on a state of heightened alert all day; and because of that, because we no longer run our lives in a state of cyclical heightened - and lowered - alert, - taking breaks from the heightened alert state - it is exhausting, and, in turn, that can make it hard to concentrate intensely on something for a period of time.

When I was a kid, it was perfectly normal (especially during wet days in summer) to see kids curled up, completely lost in, or wholly immersed in, a book; that was something that took concentration and focus - and also needed time.

Because of the constant temptations, and distractions (and rewards) of social media, you tend to see this a lot less nowadays.

 

[a2jack]

There is good cause to be stressed about life and your future.

Compared to what is coming, the era after WW2 up through the 90's was a "walk in the park" for working class Americans.

Now comes AI. https://www.pbs.org/video/in-the-age-of-ai-zwfwzb/