22 typical problems for people who suffer from a lack of concentration

If you suffer with a lack of concentration, there can be a variety of causes of this. You may be suffering with stress for example, or anxiety or depression, or you may have physiological reasons for a lack of concentration. Tiredness is a major factor, as is poor diet. Hormonal changes can also be a reason why many women have trouble concentrating at key periods in their lives such as puberty, during pregnancy or approaching menopause. For most of us, concentration problems will be temporary, but that doesn’t stop us worrying about the issues here and now.

Do you suffer with a lack of concentration? Do you recognise these problems?

1. You enter a room but can’t remember what you came in for.
2. You go to the supermarket and you ‘know there was something else’ but can’t remember what it was.
3. You put your keys/purse/wallet/spectacles down and can’t find them again “I know I put them somewhere!”
4. You start something, perhaps a book or a craft project, but then you don’t finish what you were doing.
5. You’re watching a television show or a movie and your mind wanders so much you can’t follow the plot
6. You’re studying but can’t remember anything at all
7. Your mind races from one thought to the next without pausing
8. You are struggling to remember things in your short term memory
9. You have difficulty forming coherent thoughts
10. You start speaking but trail off
11. You struggle with names
12. You suffer with insomnia and your brain is too busy in the night, meaning you toss and turn
13. It’s someone’s birthday and you forget to send a card
14. You have an appointment and completely forget you’re supposed to show up
15. You’re sat at your desk and feel paralysed with the weight of what you have to do and have no idea where to start
16. You know you should keep some sort of diary or create a task list but haven’t got around to doing it
17. You’re good at procrastination
18. You’re easily distracted
19. Too much noise in your environment means you can’t think straight
20. You feel down or anxious and being low means you’re inclined to put things off, or feel ‘it isn’t worth it’.
21. You have no enthusiasm for the task in hand
22. You can’t focus on anything for very long at all.

You can improve your concentration

If you get to grips with what it is that is actually causing your concentration problems, then the chances are that you will be able to improve matters. The thing to remember is that concentration problems can range in intensity from slight, to moderate, to severe. They can come in waves, where the problem is really bad one minute but eases the next. It may be a temporary blip, a stressful period in your life. If you’re worried that it is anything more deeply rooted than this, then do take further advice.

Other articles

Do you think too much? Or too little?

Feel like you overthink too much? Having a hard time making decisions? Or feel like you don’t consider your options enough? Find out how to strike a balance.

Isn't depression just a fancy word for feeling a bit down?

Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety affect around 1 in 6 people at some stage of their life. Despite it being such a common problem, many sufferers wait months or even years before seeking help.

Tips to balance your negative aspects

Everyone is unique, even in their own bad habits or negative traits. Here are some tips to balance those negative traits in our new article!

Hiding a depression: find out if someone you know - or you yourself! - is doing this

It's not always easy to tell if someone has depression. While some signs such as sadness, pessimism and withdrawal from social interaction are easy to recognise, other symptoms may be less obvious. And some people are very good at hiding their depression - even from themselves!

Why a life without stress and obstacles is unrewarding

Stress can be both good and bad; it’s up to you how you look at it. But too much stress can be dangerous. Read more about stress in this article!

Letting go: A guide for survivors

Facing the loss of a family member or close friend is probably one of the most difficult challenges that life throws at us. When we've lost a partner, parent, brother or sister, we're likely to experience intense grief.

Did you get stuck in the past?

Do you find yourself often thinking about your past? Do you wish you could turn back the clock to days gone by or things as they were before covid disrupted the world?

20 natural ways to prevent and relieve headaches

Headaches can be a real nuisance, especially if you get them frequently. Luckily, there are many natural ways to prevent and relieve headaches without needing to reach for over the counter medication.

Signs of depression under the radar

It is not always obvious when someone is experiencing depression. Some people with depression mask their symptoms, hiding their feelings behind a smile to convince others they are happy.

Dealing with British Summer Time

Some people are overly sensitive to the time change and it can take days, if not weeks, for them to feel right again, while others barely even notice.