If you find that an inability to concentrate is impacting your work, relationships, or wellbeing, you may want to look into what could be causing it or what you can do to remedy poor focus.
Find out more about concentration concerns, and how we might be able to help.
Concentration problems aren’t something that only impact children and, while it is normal to have lapses in concentration occasionally, it can become an issue if it happens frequently or in situations where concentration is more essential.
We all struggle from time to time with finding it hard to focus on a task or situation, especially when it’s something we don’t enjoy, don’t feel particularly dedicated to, aren’t in the right environment to focus on, or simply aren’t in the mood for. If you find that an inability to concentrate is impacting your work, relationships, or wellbeing, you may want to look into what could be causing it or what you can do to remedy poor focus.
We want to help you understand what may be impacting your concentration, the support available if it becomes a persistent issue, and practical advice on ways to improve your concentration in daily life.
What are concentration problems?
Concentration is the ability to focus your attention on a task or situation effectively. Effective concentration allows you to block out distractions, maintain focus, and understand or process what you’re doing. When you’re concentrating, you’ll likely find that you can work faster and that tasks feel easier to manage.
Concentration problems are defined as an inability to focus to a degree that prevents you getting things done. Whether it’s background noise, distractions like your phone or TV, or even your own thoughts – if things frequently get in the way of work, conversation, or being present in a situation, this is an issue with concentration.
Signs of a concentration problem may include:
Forgetting information you’ve just read or been told.
Having a hard time understanding or listening to instructions.
Having to put down a task frequently or being unable to do the same thing for extended periods.
Frequently losing your place or abandoning a task in favour of distractions.
Taking longer than usual to finish tasks.
Avoiding starting a task for a long time because you know it requires sustained attention.
Having a hard time concentrating even on things you usually enjoy such as movies, conversations with friends, or reading.