distraction and scattered attention

Sometimes distracted attention greatly complicates life. It’s also good if an absent-minded person puts salt in coffee instead of sugar or forgets to buy bread on the way home. And when a person is able to forget important papers at home, going on a business trip, turn off the kettle, leaving for work - such absent-mindedness causes irreparable harm to both the absent-minded and those around him.

It makes life easier - a person is oriented in time and space, knows what has already been done and what has not yet been done. He remembers the data he needs, grasps information on the fly. A distracted person, on the other hand, cannot gather himself, constantly forgets to do one thing or another, gets confused in his own affairs and decisions.

If you suffer from your inattention and absent-mindedness, then you are probably familiar with such or similar situations. To get rid of scattered attention, identify the causes of the disease.

Types of absent-mindedness

Distractedness is divided into three types and sometimes the inability to concentrate is a sign of diseases:

innate trait. Children usually suffer from such absent-mindedness, but sometimes even growing up, people remain just as inattentive and unable to concentrate. It is difficult for such people to organize their lives, they have a hard time absorbing information, they have problems with punctuality, they are not able to systematize their daily routine so that they can do everything.
The distraction of scientists. People of science or those who give all their strength and abilities to one type of activity are subject to this type. They are focused only on what they like, the rest of the world ceases to exist for them. They are not distracted by external stimuli. It is difficult for them to switch from one task to another if it is not interesting. They say about such people "hovering in the clouds." Distracted people of this type sometimes get into comical situations due to the fact that they answer at random or look at others without seeing them, thinking about their own.
Physiological disorders. This species is divided into two subspecies - this is functional absent-mindedness and age-related absent-mindedness. People belonging to this type do not fully perceive the environment and what is happening, cannot make the right decisions and act consistently.

The main causes of absent-mindedness

There is no unreasonable absent-mindedness, consider the common ones:

Overwork: illness, lack of sleep, hard work.
Alcohol abuse, smoking.
Taking certain medications.
Lack of iodine in the body.
Hormones: menopause, pregnancy, PMS, thyroid dysfunction.
Psychological discomfort: neuroses, depression.
Old age.
Brain disorders.
Character.

How to get rid of scattered attention?

If the causes of absent-mindedness are not serious illnesses or psychological abnormalities, but a character trait or a consequence of overstrain, attention can be restored without resorting to the services of doctors.

Follow the daily routine: get up and go to bed at the same time, do not lie in bed for a long time. If you don't get enough sleep, try to carve out an hour in your daily schedule to rest.
Eat right. Make sure that the diet is balanced and that the body receives a sufficient amount of nutrients, especially iodine and folic acid.
Get a notebook to plan things for the day, week. Cross things off your list.
Ventilate the work area, apartment. Get outside more often. The brain is activated by receiving enough oxygen.
Use bright things in clothes, interior - it will cheer you up and have a beneficial effect on mental processes. But do not overdo it, too many bright colors will lead to irritation and fatigue.
In addition to color, environmental odors also affect brain activity. Where you work, live, should be fresh. Aromas of citruses, spruce cones have an invigorating effect.
Eat chocolate and nuts daily. Enough two slices of dark chocolate and a handful of any nuts to activate brain activity.
Ear massage brings clarity to the head. One minute is enough, and you will be surprised at the effect of simple manipulation.
Solve mathematical equations, problems, solve crossword puzzles, puzzles.

Children's absent-mindedness

Even for adults, with an abundance of information, it is difficult to always be collected, what can we say about a small child or teenager.

The causes of childhood absent-mindedness are such factors:

Age. It is difficult for young children to consciously concentrate on one thing, and the younger the child, the more difficult it is for him. As he matures, he will learn to keep his attention. If the parents themselves do not create conditions for him, where he will not be able to fully implement this.
. For a person, the daily routine is important, especially for children. This contributes to the strengthening of physical health and harmonious development.
Upbringing. With hyper-custody, there is no need to concentrate, the child understands that the parent will tell, help, do. And just like any other skill, if mindfulness is not trained, this skill will not develop properly.
Diseases. Any disease incapacitates a person, reducing attentiveness, activity and.
Mental disorders. This case is the most serious and requires the help of a doctor in the field of psychology, neurology. A medication course, classes in development centers and at home under the strict supervision of doctors will help.
Flaw . This reason includes malnutrition, increased stress.
Stress, fear. Perhaps the child is worried about something, he is afraid of something. Maybe he's having problems at school or with his peers. Find out the reason so that fear does not take control of the need to concentrate at a certain moment.
If a child is inattentive only in one or two areas, but the rest of the time he is collected and perfectly oriented, it means that he is simply not interested in this thing, activity, occupation.

A child may be absent-minded due to genetic disorders - such a factor occurs in families where parents abuse alcohol, have mental illnesses, or are themselves prone to distracted attention syndrome. Complications that arose during pregnancy, difficult childbirth and other causes of abnormal intrauterine development also affect.

Treatment of distracted attention in a child

As in adults, it is possible to increase the child's attentiveness, if this is not a complex psychological disorder requiring medical intervention, at home.

The child must follow the daily routine. There will be certain periods when you have to slightly adapt the schedule to any conditions. However, it is still desirable to make sure that eating, going to bed, free games, lessons and study follow in order at fixed time intervals.
The child must have responsibilities. You should not do everything instead of a child, a kid of 2-4 years old is quite capable of putting away toys, putting on pants and socks, an older child can clean up the dishes, make a bed. A school-age child is able to clean his room or help around the house. And even if at the beginning it will turn out completely different from how you would have done it, it will be better with each new time. But if you see that the child is really tired or has no mood, it is better not to insist.
Teach your child independence. In addition to duties, he should have the right to choose, in which case you can slightly correct his decision, but he must take an active part in family life, and not passively follow your lead. Consult with him, discuss family situations, questions.
Do not leave him alone with problems, do not refuse help. No matter how independent a child is, he is still a child and he needs your support and sometimes help. Do not confuse doing duties for him and helping.
Play with your child in games of his age, do what he is interested in. Set aside at least an hour every day to be alone with him. More often engage in educational, logical games that are age appropriate.

Praise the child. Even if his achievement seems like a trifle to you, praise him anyway. But at the same time, do not overdo it, praise should not become flattery with or without a reason, it should be really deserved.
Eliminate physical and psychological overwork.

Staying always in good shape is difficult for both an adult and a child - life is rich and intense, everyone needs a break.

Arrange family evenings, field trips - all this will provide an opportunity to switch and reboot, relieve accumulated fatigue and stress.

And remember, all people are different, with their own character, temperament and abilities. It may be that the person is not absent-minded at all, but simply not assiduous or, on the contrary, too painstaking. Be healthy.