Focusing is about maintaining attention on a task for a certain period of time without interruption despite distractions all around. These distractions can be external, such as noises, visual information, more or less pleasant smells, or internal, such as unpleasant bodily sensations, emotions, thoughts, etc.
Concentration can vary depending on factors such as fatigue and emotional state. It is also very easily affected by brain damage. The more difficult the task, the more difficult it is to concentrate, as it requires a lot of energy and intellectual effort.
A lack of concentration can be annoying in social situations (watching a movie or family discussions), individual leisure activities (reading a book or newspaper articles) or professional situations (completing a task to the end).
Gradually resume
The golden rule is to get used to it gradually. Forcing yourself to concentrate for too long can have the opposite effect, i.e. cause fatigue and a decrease in concentration. It can also lead to feelings of worthlessness (“I can no longer do things as I used to”).
Set yourself small, realistic and achievable goals, even if they are far from your concentration capacity before the brain injury.
Break the overall activity into several steps and take breaks between each one.
Arrange your environment and observe yourself
To the extent possible, eliminate external distractions:
- work in quiet places
- put on a helmet to muffle the noise
- clean your work surface
- put your cell phone on silent
- etc.
It is recommended to identify the moments in which you best achieve your goals (be aware of your emotional state or level of fatigue, etc.).