Reader’s Question

I am 22 years old, and ever since I can remember I would always daze off and daydream. I have trouble concentrating, and I never finished high school for this same reason. I want to stop “zoning out”. I’m scared…please help!

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

It sounds like you may have to become very diligent in making sure that you have a solidly structured schedule for yourself. If you have had difficulty with attention and concentration, being structured is a great way to get things accomplished. I wondered when I was reading your question what you spend most of your time doing. Set aside a certain amount of time to get your tasks done: fifteen minutes for this task, twenty minutes for that one. Also, make lists! Often, people who have attention issues are quite forgetful, so list-making is essential! Getting enough refreshing sleep is very important too, as well as being mindful to eat foods that are nutritious. Eating a diet full of refined sugars and artificial dyes seems to negatively impact one’s ability to concentrate if one is already struggling with concentration.

You would be wise to see your physician about this. There are a couple of different disorders that this issue could be potentially be, so getting a thorough medical evaluation can eliminate certain issues.