Tips to Improve Your Concentration

Especially as we grow older, many of us find our thoughts are easily distractible and our mind tends to wonder. Dr. Kirk Daffner, a neurologist and director of the Center for Brain/Mind Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, explains that, "Older people tend to have more difficulty filtering out stimuli that are not relevant to the task at hand." He adds mitigating factors including certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure or the natural age-related shrinking of the brain can increase a lack of concentration. 

Other things interfering with our focus are depression or sleep apnea, vision or hearing loss, and certain medications like anticholinergics (used to treat incontinence, depression, or allergies). Excessive consumption of alcohol and information overload can also be a factor. 

Medical experts say mindfulness, cognitive training, and a healthy life style may help improve a person’s concentration. Mindfulness is about focusing on the here and now and practicing it may help improve your brain’s wiring. Kim Willment, a neuropsychologist with Brigham and Women's Hospital, explains the process is easy. Start by sitting still for a few minutes each day, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breathing as well as the sounds and sensations around you.

Cognitive training can be done with brain games but doctors say you may need to keep challenging yourself for real results. Getting enough sleep each night, doing aerobic exercises, and following a healthy diet is another important part to improving concentrations.   

At MorningStar of Happy Valley, we represent the finest in senior living with a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Offering assisted living and memory care, our goal is to create a “true home” for residents with a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community. Please visit our website for more information. 

Source: health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/tips-to-improve-concentration