Eight things to do if you just can’t focus

Alex Mathers
3 min readAug 1, 2024

I know what it’s like to feel like you have much to do but can’t seem to find the motivation to get moving.

Your thoughts are all over the place, and you feel this overwhelming sense of pressure or even boredom.

Been there. Done that.

Not a fan.

Here are some things I always return to if I need a push in the right direction.

Get mindful for at least a minute.

You need to put an end to all this thinking that creates the illusion you’re in control. You aren’t.

Overthinking just makes it worse.

Meditation solves this. Focus on your breath for a few minutes.

This will reset your mind. You may find needed insights popping up within minutes of starting this practice.

Watch a movie.

Maybe you’ve been procrastinating and watching tons of films and videos, in which case, a movie is the last thing you want to do next.

But if you haven’t, an immersive escape like a good film might be just the antidote.

Let yourself go to a good story and captivating visuals for a while.

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Alex Mathers
Alex Mathers

Written by Alex Mathers

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Responses (2)

What are your thoughts?

This is sort of the opposite of something I read today in a book, which said ‘eat the frog first’, meaning tackle your least pleasant task first thing in the morning and keep going until it’s finished. Easier said than done.

Thank you for the practical advice. Taking just a minute to practice mindfulness can significantly alleviate overthinking and restore a sense of calm. Focusing on the breath is a simple yet effective way to reset the mind and gain clarity.