Ever sit down to focus, hear a ding from your phone, and completely forget what you were about to do? 😵‍💫 Attention challenges like these are common—and for those recovering from a stroke or brain injury, they can have a big impact.

Attention is the foundation of cognitive processes like learning and memory. 🧠 There are different types of attention—such as sustained attention (focusing on one task, like reading in a quiet area) and alternating or divided attention (juggling tasks, like cooking while on the phone).

This explains why some everyday activities may seem easier than others—especially when distractions occur.

The good news? Small changes can help you manage distractions and regain focus. It's as simple as identifying your (or your loved one's) distractions and using strategies to manage them.

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Step 1: Identify Distractions 👀

Distractions can be external or internal:

• External distractions come from the environment, like people talking, dogs barking, cluttered workspace, a cold room, or phone notifications.
• Internal distractions come from inside our minds and bodies, including thoughts, worries, emotions, or how we feel physically (e.g. hunger or discomfort).

Pay attention (pun intended! 🙂) to your environment and thoughts, and take inventory of your biggest distractors.

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Step 2: Use Strategies to Manage Distractions 🛠️

External Distractions:

For Auditory Distractions:

• Turn off the TV 📺
• Silence or turn off your phone📵
• Close windows or doors 🚪
• Move to a quiet space 🛋️
• Use earplugs or noise-cancellation headphones 🎧

For Visual Distractions:

• Declutter and organize your workspace 🗂️
• Adjust the lighting as needed 💡
• Close the curtains 🪟

Other Considerations:

• Adjust the thermostat or wear layers 🧥
• Wear glasses and hearing aids if you need them 👓🔊
• Tell friends & family when you don't want to be disturbed 👥

Internal Distractions:

• For discomfort: Adjust your chair, move around, or manage pain 💊
• For hunger or thirst: Keep a snack and water nearby 🍎🥤
• For stress: Practice deep breathing or jot down worries to refocus 🧘📝
• For fatigue: Take breaks-- work for a set amount of time and rest in between ⏱️

Use high-tech or low-tech aids to help 📅📱

Try using timers, checklists, calendars, or smartwatches to stay on track. Whether you prefer a notebook to record your to-dos or a smartphone calendar to add reminders, these tools can help you stay focused.

Want to learn more?

To learn more, check out our newest blog article for SLPs treating attention here, or explore attention tips on our Instagram and Facebook pages this month.

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With improved awareness of distractions and a few small changes, daily tasks will feel easier. Progress starts with one step—and one managed distraction—at a time! 💪✨

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Warmly,

Megan

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P.S. To learn more about cognitive-communication disorders, check out the What is Cognitive-Communication article on our website. For information on using our apps to help, I recommend our Using Apps to Treat Cognition article.

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