Figuring Out Focus

September’s Mind Spotlight

J. DIEKER

For all we know, he could be focused on contemplating life’s deepest mysteries. Alas, we cannot yet read the minds of goldfish. Science needs to get its priorities straight!

As I was researching for this article, I went down an interesting rabbit hole. A statistic claimed that the average attention span for an adult was eight seconds, less than that of a goldfish. No way, that can’t be right. I have been focusing for fifteen minutes! I thought as I looked back up from checking my phone. 

Even though we often seem to prove this statistic right, it is actually unfounded. Our brains naturally respond to environmental stimuli. We kinda need them to do so in order to survive. The issue here is building up a natural ability to maintain concentration when completing a task. What this really comes down to is a person’s ability to rest or be restless. Chris Bailey, who has researched productivity and focus extensively, believes that the problem is not that our brains are bad at focusing. It’s that our brains are exhaustively overstimulated. 

We live in a society of constant stimulation. Road side ads, constant phone notifications, a bajillion emails, the twenty first century person faces an unprecedented number of distractions. When our brains find something to focus on, or a new problem to fix, a little bit of dopamine is released, making distraction pleasurable. As a society, we have become addicted to overstimulating ourselves with distraction. This causes us to be restless, as we are always looking for the next dopamine trigger to satiate us. 

So what do we do? We start from the basics. For your body to do anything, you need to have enough sleep and hydration. Starting with these basics creates the foundation for success. From there, unplug! Create screen time boundaries and take time away from electronic devices. Make space to simply wonder and live in the present. Another great way to practice concentration is breathing exercises. Ever notice how at the beginning of a Pilates session or Mat class we take time to breathe? This helps us to become more aware of our bodies. Utilize those breathing and stretching exercises to slow down and release tension. 

Focus is possible, but like any virtue it takes intentional practice! This September, lets grow in concentration together. I definitely recommend this TEDx Talk to get started!

References

“About Chris Bailey - Chris Bailey.” Chris Bailey, 26 May 2025, chrisbailey.com/about. Accessed 1 Sept. 2025.

Goleman, Dan, PhD. “The Less Distracted We Are, the More Successful We Can Be at Whatever We Do.” Psychology Today, 7 Oct. 2013, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-brain-and-emotional-intelligence/201310/the-four-basic-moves-to-strengthen-focus.

Harvard Health. “Concentration and Focus.” Harvard Health, 8 May 2023, www.health.harvard.edu/topics/concentration-focus. Accessed 1 Sept. 2025.

Knight, Rebecca. “7 Habits to Stay Focused in a World Full of Distractions.” Harvard Business Review, 4 Feb. 2025, hbr.org/2025/02/7-habits-to-stay-focused-in-a-world-full-of-distractions. Accessed 1 Sept. 2025.

Maybin, Simon. “Busting the Attention Span Myth.” BBC News, 10 Mar. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/health-38896790. Accessed 1 Sept. 2025.

Solan, Matthew. “Pay Attention to Concentration.” Harvard Health, 1 Apr. 2025, www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/pay-attention-to-concentration. Accessed 1 Sept. 2025.

TEDx Talks. “How to Get Your Brain to Focus | Chris Bailey | TEDxManchester.” YouTube, 5 Apr. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu4Yvq-g7_Y.