Why do people struggle with poor concentration?
Written by
Natalie Hamilton
Reviewed by
Prof. Graham Pierce, Ph.D.Struggles with concentration arise from a plethora of interconnected causes. Patterns have emerged in my coaching practice, which spans over 12 years of experience. Physiological factors such as blood sugar crashes have a way of creating mental fog. Environmental noise constantly pulls focus from consciousness. Erratic stimulation from constant multitasking clutters up cognitive resources. If not addressed, these can become more severe and compound into greater problems.
The instability of blood sugar directly interferes with concentration. Skipping meals and consuming sugar-laden snacks can lead to energy crashes. The drop in glucose creates instability in the neurotransmitters. This affects PFC function. I measure clients' lower concentration levels after they have made poor nutritional choices, as stable nutrition helps prevent these drops.
Auditory Control
- Use noise-canceling headphones with brown noise
- Set phone to Do Not Disturb during focus blocks
- Install acoustic panels in home offices
- Position desks away from high-traffic areas
Visual Management
- Apply desk organizers using the 5S system
- Position monitors perpendicular to windows
- Use room dividers to create focus zones
- Add two plants per 100 sq ft for visual calm
Digital Hygiene
- Install app blockers like Freedom
- Schedule two 10-minute social checks daily
- Turn off non-essential notifications
- Use grayscale mode on devices
Multitasking leads to psychological overload. Switching between activities drains mental energy. Each interruption requires a refocusing effect in time. Continuous switching exhausts the stores of attention. I record the clients' error rates during multitasking and single-tasking. The differences illustrate their tiring effect.
If your mental training has not been enough, your attention muscles are weak. Similar to unused physical muscles, your focus capacity goes "soft." Mindfulness cultivates attentional stamina. With each daily practice, you strengthen your neural pathways. Clients who meditate daily demonstrate measurable improvements in concentration within three weeks.
Restoring concentration requires addressing all contributing factors simultaneously. First includes proper nutrition stabilization plus one environmental fix. Then gradually increase the effort in mindfulness training. Keep track of the progress made every week. Achieving long-term results comes from methods that provide permanent solutions rather than sudden, quick-fix ideas. The mind without any concentration problems can become as clear as it was meant to be.
Read the full article: 10 Proven Ways to Improve Focus
