Concentration Is Hard
When was the last time you fully focused on watching a movie or reading a book? If it’s been a while, you’re not alone—or perhaps you’ve recently decided to try to focus more on these activities.
I clearly remember the last movie I watched: Rare Exports with my mom on Christmas Eve. (You can check it out here). Before that, it was the third Deadpool movie back in August. That’s only about two movies a year! As a teenager, I used to watch movies almost daily. What changed?
Now, the idea of sitting through a full movie feels exhausting. Aren’t they all so long these days? Wouldn’t it be easier to just watch three episodes of Chicago P.D. instead?
Why has it become so difficult to focus on one thing for an extended period?
Busy Lives, Broken Focus
A typical workday is full of distractions: calls, meetings, emails, and notifications demanding your attention.
Picture this: your calendar notifies you about a meeting in 15 minutes just as a colleague’s message pops up, and your phone buzzes with yet another email alert. Someone—or something—is always asking for your attention.
It’s like being in the middle of an accident scene with many people waving for help, and you’re unsure where to start. Do you turn to the loudest voice or the one that seems most urgent? And what about yourself—do you pause to assess if you’re capable of helping at all?
A colleague recently told me she had to ban her 11-year-old from watching YouTube Shorts at night. The reason? It directly impacted his ability to focus at school the next day. Quick, bite-sized videos may be entertaining, but they seem to come at the cost of long-term concentration.
Is It Us—or the World Around Us?
The truth is, our fast-paced lives, constant interruptions, and short-form content are eroding our ability to focus.
Writer and journalist Johann Hari argues that poor concentration isn’t a personal failure—it’s largely shaped by our environment. Social media and tech companies are designed to keep us engaged for as long as possible, prioritizing profit over our attention spans.
While I agree with Hari that technology contributes to distraction, I also believe we have more power and responsibility than we often acknowledge. Yes, fast-paced content can harm our focus, but we can choose how much we let it affect us.
Taking Back Control: How to Protect Your Focus
Here are some practical tips to help you regain control of your attention:
Turn off unnecessary notifications on email, Teams, and other apps.
Use “Do Not Disturb” mode on your phone to prevent interruptions.
Block time for tasks and focus only on those during that period.
Limit social media use: Evaluate which platforms add value to your life and set time limits for them.
I use all these strategies to safeguard my focus and get things done. For instance, when I have a big task that requires full attention, I silence my phone and log out of email and Teams. This allows me to work uninterrupted, which is not only productive but also mentally calming. Concentrating on one thing at a time helps me avoid the unnecessary stress of constant interruptions.
What I’ve Learned About Focus
I work in B2B sales, a field where many believe you must always be available. But I’ve learned that constant availability is neither realistic nor healthy.
Frequent notifications and pop-ups make me feel falsely rushed, so I’ve turned most of them off. Very few things require an immediate response. And if something truly urgent happens, people will call. Otherwise, emails, Teams messages, and other communications will still be there when I’m ready to check them.
Even during the workday, I sometimes silence my phone to focus on a challenging task. If I don’t answer immediately, the client or colleague doesn’t know whether I’m in a meeting or simply focusing. Either way, I’ll get back to them soon.
By making these small changes, I’ve regained a sense of control over my day. My work feels calmer and less overwhelming, and I no longer create unnecessary mental stress for myself.
What About You?
How do you maintain your focus? Have you tried any of these strategies? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear them!