{"id":2629,"date":"2022-03-10T17:45:12","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T09:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2629"},"modified":"2022-03-10T17:45:12","modified_gmt":"2022-03-10T09:45:12","slug":"why-you-cant-concentrate-at-work-and-what-you-can-do-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.uk\/blog\/why-you-cant-concentrate-at-work-and-what-you-can-do-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you can\u2019t concentrate at work (and what you can do about it)"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve all had days where we can\u2019t seem to focus on the task at hand and actually accomplish anything. We take way too long to reply to an email, then open a YouTube video and go down its often-inevitable rabbit hole, or scroll through social media much longer than we should. Knowing that our list of things to do is only mounting doesn\u2019t help either. What gives, you may wonder. In this Pacific Prime UK<\/a> article, we look at why you can\u2019t concentrate at work and what you can do when you can\u2019t focus.<\/p>\n\n

You\u2019re exhausted<\/h2>\n

If you start the workday with eyes that barely seem to open, a triple espresso in your mug and non-stop yawning, you are probably exhausted. And when you\u2019re that tired, it becomes that much more difficult to concentrate. Based on research<\/a> surrounding the impact of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance, there is a direct link between lack of sleep and impaired cognitive function. It hinders one facet in particular, and that is the ability to focus.<\/p>\n

But what is even more disturbing is that extended wakefulness<\/a> can cause brain cells to die. Without enough sleep, neurons don\u2019t get a chance to rest either, which can lead to them being damaged and ultimately destroyed. Even though studies have been done on mice, it\u2019s likely that lack of sleep could kill our human brain cells too.<\/p>\n

The solution<\/h3>\n

That triple espresso might help you push through but it\u2019s merely a quick fix. If you can\u2019t have a quick nap during the workday, then the next best thing you can do is go for a walk. It\u2019s even better if you can go for a walk outdoors, as you\u2019ll benefit from moving your body and getting some natural light as well.<\/p>\n

As tempting as it may be to keep your coffee levels high, you\u2019re better off downing lots of water as sleepiness is one of the main symptoms of chronic dehydration. And while these tips will help you get through the day when you rather curl up underneath your desk, nothing beats getting enough rest at night (which is 7-9 hours for most people), so make sure to prioritise sleep.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t like what you\u2019re working on<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re having trouble staying focused at work despite plenty of rest and high energy levels, you might just not like whatever it is you\u2019re supposed to be working on. From sheer boredom to self-doubt, there are many reasons why you may have a tough time getting to work and end up browsing aimlessly, mindlessly chatting to colleagues and filling up your water bottle for the third time in an hour. The good news is that lack of focus isn\u2019t the problem; it\u2019s just procrastination.<\/p>\n

The solution<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s a reason why \u201cdo the hard things first\u201d is common advice, and that\u2019s because it works. By eating the frog<\/a>, you start the day with the most important, or most dreaded, task. Once that\u2019s done, anything else on your to-do list will seem much more manageable and enjoyable, which will help you stay focused and motivated as the day goes on.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re distracted by news<\/h2>\n

Meeting after meeting and chatty colleagues aside, there are plenty of things that can distract you during the workday. After all, we all have personal lives, and some days our personal matters steal our attention. Don\u2019t be hard on yourself when this happens, as it\u2019s hard for anyone to focus when their emotions are elsewhere.<\/p>\n

While negative news impacts our mood for various reasons, so does good news. The saying too much of a good thing applies, as the adrenaline from positive news can often turn into anxiety, and thereby impact work performance. Whichever direction your emotional state is pulled towards, being out of balance makes it difficult to stay focused at work.<\/p>\n

The solution<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not always easy to keep your emotions in check. No matter how much you try to push away thoughts of the news, it just keeps coming back. According to experts<\/a>, your best bet is to acknowledge the distraction first and recentre yourself through breathing exercises<\/a>, a quick meditation, or jotting down some notes to look at later. The idea is not to avoid what you\u2019re feeling but to recognise it and set it aside for when you can deal with it properly.<\/p>\n

Taking a few minutes to do this will help you rebalance your mood or adrenaline levels so you can concentrate on work again. It may sound simple, but simple solutions are often the most effective.<\/p>\n

Your work environment isn\u2019t right<\/h2>\n

We all thrive in different environments. The ideal work environment for you can improve your concentration and make it easy to focus for much longer than one that isn\u2019t. While some people might prefer a quiet room all to themselves, others may enjoy a traditional office setup with colleagues all around. What\u2019s more, comfortable, ergonomic furniture plays an important role too, as it\u2019s hard to concentrate when you can\u2019t even sit properly.<\/p>\n

The solution<\/h3>\n

Some offices and coworking spaces keep workspace design<\/a> in mind and offer customised workspaces for this very reason. But if yours doesn\u2019t, then do what you can to make your space suitable for you. For instance, you might want to use a backrest, a laptop stand, or your own keyboard and mouse. If you prefer natural light, you could try swapping your desk with a colleague who sits by the window if rules allow for it. If you work from home<\/a>, invest in good quality furniture like a desk and chair for your home office.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re spreading yourself too thin<\/h2>\n

Multitaskers like to think that doing a lot of things at once makes them more productive, but that isn\u2019t always the case. Sure, it may feel like you\u2019re doing more, but studies show that our brains aren\u2019t as equipped for multiple tasks as we may believe<\/a>. While there are some instances when multitasking can be good<\/a>, such as with tasks that require minimal attention or when it motivates you, times when you\u2019re finding it hard to focus at work are not one of them.<\/p>\n

The problem with doing too many things at once is that you often end up producing less overall. On top of that, interrupted work<\/a> often results in more frustration and higher stress levels. Being under too much stress is comparable to having too much adrenaline in that both make it harder for you to focus and perform.<\/p>\n

The solution<\/h3>\n

Even if we know that multitasking can spike our stress levels and make us less productive, it\u2019s something that many of us do habitually. We\u2019ve all said that we\u2019re going to focus on the task in front of us, only to find we return to doing several things at once. Fortunately, there are little things you can do to increase your ability to focus. You can:<\/p>\n