Why Is It So Hard to Focus? It’s Not Just Technology’s Fault

A woman finding it hard to focus and looking out the window during work

Why is it so hard to focus these days? Do we have an unlimited amount of mental energy to use? The biggest problem we face when trying to be productive is that the things that distract us seem limitless, especially now that the digital world has infiltrated every aspect of life. However, Gloria Mark’s book Attention Span says our devices aren’t entirely to blame. Let’s look at the real reason why you and so many others may find it hard to concentrate on simple tasks.

What Are Internal Distractions? Your Mind’s Fallacies

A woman holding her head from the internal distractions

What are internal distractions? How does your personality determine how often you get distracted? When your mental reserves run low, you’re vulnerable to attention-sapping pitfalls, some of which are internal and some beyond your control. According to Attention Span by Gloria Mark, your personality can make you more susceptible to getting distracted easily. Continue reading to learn about the internal distractions that are ruining your ability to focus.

Why Multitasking Is Bad: The Psychological Toll It Takes

A woman trying and failing to do several things at once because multitasking is bad

Do you multitask often? What are the negative effects of doing several things at once? Even more pernicious than frequent interruptions is the pressure to do several things at once. Multitasking is now part of the world we live in, and it comes with significant cognitive and physiological costs. Discover why multitasking is bad and the psychological toll it has on your brain.

Are Distractions Good? The Pros and Cons of Losing Focus

A man texting on his phone at work, showing that distractions are good sometimes

Are distractions good, or are they really as bad as we think they are? How can interruptions lead to more productivity? In addition to internal distractions, you deal with constant external interruptions every day, which are equally tricky—if not harder—to contend with. While distractions are still bad altogether, they can come with some positive effects. Let’s look at the pros and cons of distractions and some of the benefits you can gain from getting off track.

How Does Social Media Affect Attention Span? (Gloria Mark)

A woman scrolling on her computer, showing how social media affects attention span

Do you find yourself scrolling through social media for hours? How does social media affect attention span? While online algorithms sometimes direct us from one static website to another, Gloria Mark writes in Attention Span that the bulk of algorithmic attention control revolves around social media platforms. She says these sites sap away our focus by leaning on our desire for validation and our basic human nature. Keep reading to learn how sites like Instagram and TikTok take a toll on your ability to concentrate.

How to Increase Concentration Power: Find a Healthy Balance

A man working on his computer and increasing his concentration power at work

Are you ready to be more productive? How does working with distractions help you focus more? In Attention Span, Gloria Mark acknowledges that even though many external factors shape our behavior, we still retain some ability to choose how we act. You just need to learn how to take back most of the brainpower you use to concentrate. Read more to learn how to increase your concentration power, including when to surrender to distractions.

How to Achieve Balance in Life: 3 Skills for Good Productivity

A woman walking on a tightrope in the sky to achieve a balance in life

Do you want to know how to achieve balance in life? What types of breaks should you take to improve productivity? In Attention Span, Gloria Mark disputes the idea that constant productivity is a worthy goal. Instead, she advocates a balance between periods of deep concentration, more “mechanical” tasks, and breaks to let your mind recharge. Discover the three skills that you should practice to achieve balance: self-awareness, planning your time, and self-moderation. 

Internet Distractions: Why Is Going Online So Addictive?

A woman looking at a computer screen, pulled in by internet distractions

Why are internet distractions so alluring? How are algorithms created to keep us distracted? In Attention Span, Gloria Mark says we wouldn’t be drawn to electronic distractions if not for the internet. Digital connectivity makes more information readily available than ever before, but this comes with some unanticipated costs. Keep reading to learn how the internet plays a big part in our subconscious psychological desire to lose focus.

Laziness Does Not Exist: Book Overview (Devon Price)

A woman reading a book on a couch

Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you work, it’s never enough? What’s the book Laziness Does Not Exist about? Devon Price’s book Laziness Does Not Exist challenges the harmful belief that our productivity determines our worth. The book reveals how this toxic myth creates unrealistic expectations, damages our well-being, and teaches us to condemn ourselves and others for normal human limitations. Read more in our brief Laziness Does Not Exist book overview.

Bittersweet by Lotte Bowser: Book Overview & Takeaways

A woman reading a book

What’s Bittersweet by Lotte Bowser about? What inner strength allows a person to face overwhelming grief and still find a way forward? Lotte Bowser’s Bittersweet chronicles a profound six-year journey of love, devastating loss, and eventual healing. Bowser reveals the whirlwind romance with Ben that quickly evolved into deep love, their battle against his cancer diagnosis, and her struggle to reconstruct a meaningful life in the aftermath. Read more in our brief overview of Bittersweet.