Exhausted but still busy? The silent drain on your focus

We all like to think we can multitask. That we’re staying on top of things, the emails, the decisions, the meetings, the quick checks on our phones between tasks.

But, how often do we still spend time at work in deep focus, concentrating on just one large task that requires our full attention? And how often do we know that we should be listening better, concentrating harder and focusing on being present, while our minds jump from one thing to another and we can’t seem to control it?

If this is you, you’re not alone – we all have times that we struggle to concentrate. The question is, how much of that is inevitable, and what can we do to improve our focus and attention when we really need it?

The cost of constant distraction

The term “attention residue” describes the mental drag that happens when we switch from one task to another. Even when we think we’ve moved on, a part of our mind is still caught up in what came before. That’s why jumping between tasks (or tabs) doesn’t just slow us down, it can reduce the quality of our thinking.

One exercise I use – for myself and the people I work with – is to jot down every topic that repeatedly distracts you as you are working in deep focus. For instance, while writing this blog, my mind has wandered to: Look after son… dog barking… kitchen refurb… son… I still need to send that email… change that music… did son have lunch…, etc. This helps me to become more conscious of what is on my mind – worries about my son being at home – and managing the kitchen refurbishment on top of everything else. Sometimes, we can find ourselves in the next meeting, not yet having fully processed what happened at the last, adding to the list of things that can distract us throughout the day, rather than making time to process them, take the meeting actions, and move forward.

Deep Work, as Cal Newport describes it, is the kind of focused, uninterrupted effort that leads to real progress. And it’s increasingly rare. Our devices are engineered to interrupt us. Our calendars often feel like other people’s to-do lists. And yet, when we do carve out space to think, the results can be profound.

A space to refocus

During the New Perspectives sessions, we give ourselves time to think again. Each session is a calm, reflective space to explore one powerful theme and the next theme on Wednesday 14 May, 12 noon, will be Focus and Concentration. What helps you to arrive in deep Flow (as coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi), quickly and easily, ignoring all distractions for a while?

New Perspectives is a free initiative designed to offer a thinking space for busy people. You don’t need to attend every session, each one stands on its own. Simply register and you’ll receive the Zoom invitation directly in your inbox.

Whether you’re feeling scattered, stretched, or simply curious about how to work with more clarity, you’re warmly invited.