Why It’s So Hard To Stay Focused Now And What We Can Do About It

The pandemic has changed so much in our world. Businesses are closed, schools have moved to online learning, and most people are still home, sheltered in place, waiting for the world to open back up again.  It seems as though it would be the ideal time to sink into some good books.  But, for many people, finishing a book right now feels almost impossible. 

Why can’t we focus on reading?

Oliver J. Robinson, a neuroscientist based at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London was recently interviewed for Vox about the lack of focus that so many of us have been struggling with. 

He explained that the difference between fear and anxiety is that fear is based on something predictable with a beginning and end and anxiety is based on uncertainties with no known beginning or end.  The uncertain nature of the pandemic has caused a lot of us to be stuck in a constant state of anxiety.

“What we’re doing is trying to resolve this uncertainty that is unresolvable,” Robinson said. “And in the end, you’re just promoting this anxiety. You’re trying to find the answer; you can’t find the answer; you hear about this conspiracy theory, that conspiracy theory. It just gets worse and worse and worse.”

Constantly being in this anxious state makes it especially difficult to focus on anything that requires a lot of attention, such as reading.

What does this mean for our kids?

Though younger children may not be inundated with the same amount of information that adults are, they are still keenly aware that things are very different.  Not only do they have their own worries and disappointments about missing friends and events, but they also absorb a lot of anxiety from their parents.

The weight of this anxiety can make focusing on reading, or anything else…. almost impossible.

What can parents do about it?

With no clear end in sight to the pandemic, it’s likely that this uncertainty will be with us for some time. Fortunately, there are some tools available to help kids (and ourselves) stay focused.

Practice mindfulness. A recent study showed that just 10 minutes of daily mindful mediation can help prevent your mind from wandering. Meditation is particularly effective for dealing with the repetitive, anxious thoughts that are so common right now.  There are many online meditation resources available for kids and adults.

Take frequent breaks. Instead of attempting to push through hours of focused time, allow for lots of short breaks between tasks. Smaller segments of time help keep your mind from wandering or losing interest. If kids are having trouble getting through chapter books right now, you might consider bringing back picture books or short stories. It’s also a really good time to read to your children.  The comfort of having you nearby, engaged in the same story can help them remain present and focused.

Prevent distractions. This can be especially difficult at a time everyone may be at home. Setting up cozy “quiet spaces” around the house where household members can go to avoid distractions can be a good way to help regain focus. 

Listen to music. A 2010 study done by the University of Wales is just one of many studies that show how listening to music can help with mental health and focus. Playing soothing music in the background can be a good way to help you or your child find the inner calm necessary to focus on reading or any other task that requires concentration.

Spend time outdoors  If you live in a place with a backyard or access to nature, being outside can help you avoid the noisiness of a busy household and center yourself. Numerous studies have shown that nature has a positive effect on mental health, cognitive ability, and focus.

Write down your thoughts.  Sometimes, your brain is just so busy spinning through anxious thoughts that it isn’t able to focus on anything else. In that case, the best thing to do might be to put down whatever it is that you’re trying to focus on and take a few moments to write down what’s on your mind.  Getting your thoughts out of your head and on paper lets your mind know that you can set aside those thoughts for a while and focus on the task at hand.

Find A Good Support System. Just talking to other parents or educators about how they are handling anxiety can be helpful in regaining focus. Look for programs or organizations that offer a holistic, sustainable approach to you and your family’s mental health.