4 Myths Why Struggle To Maintain Focus With The Game On The Line

With the seeming rise of ADHD, not being able to pay attention at work, and kids not being able to sit and learn in school, some people might think that we have a focus and attention problem. While not being able to sit and work on a project, work, or school can definitely be a problem, this is nothing new. People have always day dreamed, wished to be somewhere else when they were working, or sometimes just felt too tired to be present in the moment.

These characteristics are completely normal. While teachers feel their students don't want to pay attention and employers might assume their workers hate their jobs, the truth may be that everyone just struggles with focusing in and paying attention. The good news is that focus of attention is actually something that can be exercised and worked on, just like working out a muscle. It is a skill, and while people seem to lack it at times, there are some common myths about focus: Myth: Focus is an inherent skill that cannot be developed.

Truth: Focus is a multifunctional aspect of mental function that can be trained and honed multiple different ways. From working on the ability to stay present, to becoming self aware to where your brain is at in a given moment, you can do multiple things to help bring focus of attention to everything you do.

Myth: You have to forget about the past and adversity to live in the present so you can better focus on the task at hand.

Truth: Adversity is a part of everyday life. While it doesn't help to dwell on mistake, learning from the past can be a great tool for helping you focus in the future. In fact, learning from past adversities is an inherent way that we improve. This makes it easier to focus on what is most important in a given situation in the future so we can be successful.

Myth: If someone can’t focus, it’s because they are mentally weak.

Truth: This is like saying that someone who can't ride a bike will never be able to ride a bike because they are physically weak. All it really means is that they haven' learned how to yet. The same thing applies to focus. If someone has trouble focusing, they aren't mentally weak, they probably just haven't had a chance to practice it enough yet to be good at it, especially at times that matter like during a test, presentation, or during sport.

Myth: Lapses in performance/compliance are due to a lack of mental toughness

and a client/athlete who struggles with that doesn’t have “what it takes.”

Truth: When someone has lapses in performance, a lot of coaches and peers are quick to point out a lack of mental toughness as the reason. But this is a scapegoat. Similar to the reasoning above, someone may struggle to focus and have lapses in performance due to a lack of experience. If we want to be more specific, it's a lack of awareness of when their focus is wavering. Think being on the last 10 minutes of a 2 hour game basketball game. Fatigue sets in and without the ability to know what to focus on when it matters most, it's easy to pay attention to the wrong information, and it may be seen as a lack of mental toughness.

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