How to Stop Being Absent Minded and Inattentive

Are you often absent-minded?

• Do you lose your attention while working, studying, or reading?
• Do you forget where you put your eyeglasses or phone?
• Sometimes, when you are out, do you start worrying whether you locked your door or turned off the stove?
• Do you lose attention in a conversation?
• Do you start a task, get distracted, and begin doing something else? Do you leave the previous task unfinished?

If the above questions are valid for you, it means that you are absent-minded.

It is a common habit that you can stop. You can become less absent-minded and more attentive.

What Is Absent Mindedness

Absent-mindedness means a lack of attention. It means being mentally somewhere else.

You have most probably heard the phrase “absent-minded professor.” These words describe people who are so engrossed in their own world that they fail to keep track of their surroundings.

• Being absent minded does not necessarily mean forgetfulness. It could mean that you are preoccupied or absorbed in something else and, therefore, are inattentive to your immediate surroundings.
• It could mean that you are easily distracted by thoughts, people, and external events due to lack of focus.
• Being absent minded could be a symptom of tiredness after a day’s work.
• It could be due to worries and problems that take your attention.

Most people are absent minded in certain situations and circumstances. This is natural, and you need not worry about it.

However, you might need to consult a professional for help if your situation is more severe.

How to Stop Being Absent-Minded?

How to become less absent-minded?

There are various things you can do, and here, we will focus on a few simple things you can do.

Please read on to find tips you can use to stop being absent-minded.

1. Be Careful of Lack of Focus and Attention

The main reason for being absent-minded is a lack of focus and attention, leading to inattentiveness. If your mind is always busy with something else, you need to pay attention to what you are doing at the moment.

You don’t remember well what you did when you are not attentive. This is not forgetfulness because your mind was somewhere else. It is as if you are in a different world.

If you want to stop being absent-minded and inattentive, you must improve your focus and concentration.

Strive to focus on your actions, tasks, and work. Each time your mind wanders away, bring it back to focus on what you are doing.

Persistence will eventually bring results.

2. Avoid Multitasking

Avoid multitasking. Do one thing at a time instead of trying to carry out several tasks simultaneously. Doing one thing at a time makes you more efficient.

Trying to accomplish several tasks simultaneously prevents you from focusing well on each job. This can lead to making errors and mistakes. When you do too many things simultaneously, none is done exceptionally well.

It is best to do one thing at a time.

3. Avoid Daydreaming When You Are Busy

Daydreaming is a pleasant activity, but if you indulge in it while busy with other things, you might lose your attention and get absorbed in your daydreams. This implies that your attention is not under your control.

Be careful not to daydream while listening to a lecture, working, reading, or studying.

If you catch yourself daydreaming or thinking of other matters, immediately bring your attention back to what you are doing.

4. Avoid Watching TV too Much TV

How many hours do you sit in front of your TV screen, watching movies and other programs?

If you watch TV and do other things simultaneously, you do them in an absent-minded way and, therefore, inefficiently.

Watching too much TV weakens your willpower, your self-discipline, and your ability to control your thoughts.

5. Get Enough Sleep

Get enough sleep at night. Lack of sleep weakens your focus and attention and leads to being absent minded.

Some people need more sleep, and others need less. The average time is about 6-8 hours a night.

6. Don’t dwell on worries

Avoid fretting and worrying since this keeps your mind agitated and less attentive. Overcoming this habit is possible if you strive to focus on what you are doing, keep yourself busy, and try to think positively.

7. Make a list of Tasks

Make a list of the essential tasks for each day and check it often so you will remember what you need to do.

8. Avoid Getting Bored

Boredom often leads to being inattentive. This happens in lectures while listening to a boring conversation or doing dull and monotonous work.

To avoid boredom, try to be more interested in the subject that is being discussed. Ask questions, join the conversation, and do your work differently. This would require focus and attention, making you more attentive and less absent-minded.

Taking a few deep breaths, drinking water, or eating fruit can help restore your attention when bored.

9. Avoid Being Lost in Thoughts

Are you sometimes lost in thoughts and become unaware of your surroundings?

When you are preoccupied with a particular thought, worry too much, and are stressed, you might get lost in your thoughts. Your attention might go far away, losing contact with what is happening around you.

Again, the remedy is a focused mind. It would be best to focus on the present moment, and no matter how many times your mind wanders away, always bring it back.

10. Turn Off Your Phone

When doing work or carrying out a task that requires attention, switch off your phone or put it away so as not to scatter your attention by texting, messaging, checking your email, or conversing with friends.

11. Focus on What You Are Doing

Learn to focus on what you are doing, especially when doing something that requires focus and attention. Learning to focus is the best remedy against being absent minded.

I hope you find these tips helpful and that they assist you to stop being absent minded.