Do You Suffer From Scatterbrain Syndrome?

Occasionally I do. Yes, even as organized and prepared as I can be, I sometimes suffer from this. It usually occurs when too many things have to be done all at once. Or when I just am not in the mood to do what I'm supposed to do and I seem to create distractions to keep from working. Regardless, it happens to all of us and I thought it was interesting to see an actual term for this behavior. Take a read and maybe the ideas here will help you avoid that next bout of Scatterbrain Syndrome.

Do you ever feel like you are going in a hundred different directions but not really going anywhere? You start on a project and then abandon it when you think of something else? Or are you busy all day and get nothing done. This lack of focus or the “Scatterbrain Syndrome”

happens to everyone. Here are a few things to do that will help you focus.

Have a specific plan for each day. Know exactly what you want to accomplish each day. What is it the most important thing for you on this day?

Pick three or four tasks from your to-do list. If you have a huge, ongoing list it is easier to break it down. Looking at a large list can be overwhelming and distracting. Write three or four things on a piece of paper, on a white board or index cards or anyplace that separates them from the bigger list. Focus only on those tasks for the day.

Minimize distractions. Everything and everyone is fighting for your attention. If you want to finish something don’t answer the phone. Learn to tell people you are in the middle of something and will get back to them. Save internet surfing and TV as a reward for completing the task you want to do.

Stop multitasking. You might be proud of the fact that you can multitask but that makes your brain go in to too many directions. Start and finish a task before moving on to the next.

Take breaks. You probably think you don’t have time to take breaks, but what if they made you more focused and productive. During this 5-10 minute period spend some time meditating and clearing your mind.

Minimize stress. Stress can create a scattered brain, so you need to find ways to minimize it. The best natural antidotes are sleep and exercise. When you are tired, your coping mechanisms get weak. Doctors say that exercise is the best natural antidepressant on the market.

Keep an accomplishment journal. Sometimes it feels like you have the scatterbrain syndrome, when in reality you have accomplished more than you think. At the end of the day keep a journal of everything you did that day. This helps you focus on what you did do, instead of what you didn’t. Put your energy in the right place and give yourself the credit you deserve.

Being a scatterbrain does not mean that you are doomed to a life of forgetfulness or a lack of productivity or concentration. It probably means you’re pretty much normal, but you may need some new strategies.