Unfortunately, most of us don’t notice our focus declining until we become completely overwhelmed. When we can’t focus at work because of distractions, it may lead us to feel stressed about not being productive, which then causes us to focus less, further feeding the cycle. Scientists also suspect that high levels of cortisol over a long period of time are a key contributor to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Long-term stress, however, can lead to prolonged increases in cortisol and can be toxic to the brain. The findings are consistent – short-term stress raises cortisol levels (the so-called stress hormone) for short periods and can jump-start our adrenalin and motivate us to perform more efficiently in response to impending deadlines. Researchers have studied the negative effects of stress on focus, memory, and other cognitive functions for decades. I just can’t seem to focus.”Ĭonstant distractions and a lack of time certainly interrupt our focus, but stress also plays a major role.Ĭhronic stress floods our nervous system with cortisol and adrenaline that short-circuits important cognitive functions. “I’m mentally exhausted from the pressure and constant distractions in my office.“My workload is insane, and there’s never enough time to get things done when I’m in meetings and dealing with urgent issues all day long.”.
In my coaching work with executives, these are the kinds of statements I most often hear when they’ve lost their focus (I may have uttered a few of them myself): Whether it’s focusing inward and attuning ourselves to our intuitions and values or outward and navigating the world around us, honing our attention is a valuable asset.Īll too often though, our focus and attention get hijacked, leaving us feeling frazzled, forgetful, and unable to concentrate.
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