#Hyperfocus add adults how to

They pay attention to their own breathing. Because of the cobblestone road surface and occasional potholes, they notice where they are planting their feet. They notice what their “high-tech” watches are telling them about their running pace. Serious 10K runners do pay attention to other things. And they don’t see many people in the crowd. They don’t read all the signs that spectators hold up. I know for sure that award-winning Monument Avenue 10K runners pay little or no attention to the famous monuments to Civil War heroes along the course. Yet, what they notice or pay attention to varies widely. Tens of thousands of people run or walk this race. I have run this race several times, watched it as a spectator, and helped at the finish line. In Richmond, Virginia, we have a very popular race known as the Monument Avenue 10K.

Here’s something I have learned: In order to run a successful race, you have to focus on certain things and ignore others. I have had the good fortune of being able to complete hundreds of running events over the past 35 years. I happen to be a competitive runner (and I don’t have ADHD).

What do I need to do to stay focused and keep from being distracted?.

How many things can (and should) I pay attention to?.

What should I pay attention to in order to meet my goal?.

You have to ask yourself questions like these: In reality, everyone (with or without ADHD) has at least a few issues with focus! For example, you might have a goal of losing weight, but you’re just not focused enough on your goal to do it! Hey, it’s hard to lose (or sometimes, gain) weight! To meet that weight goal, or any other goal, you have to focus. They also know that their tendency to hyperfocus on things to which they are attracted can side-track them from meeting their most important goals!

#Hyperfocus add adults how to

In our coaching work with ADHD college students and other adults, it is fully expected that one of the coaching goals will have something to do with learning how to focus better – on the right things! In fact, some of our clients know that people with ADHD often hyperfocus on things that distract them from meeting their goals. Wikipedia describes hyperfocus as “an intense form of mental concentration or visualization that focuses consciousness on a subject, topic, or task.” When you focus really hard, to the exclusion of other things around you, you’re hyperfocusing. It has to do with the target of your focus and the intensity of your focus. Attention is more than just the first word in ADHD.