Focus: It’s Not About Forcing Yourself to Pay Attention

If you’ve ever told yourself, “I just need to try harder,” you’re not alone.

Focus is one of the most misunderstood struggles I see—especially for those with ADHD, executive dysfunction, or just a lot on their plate.

But here’s the truth: 

Focus isn’t a moral issue.

It’s not about laziness, lack of discipline, or personal failure.

It’s about alignment, environment, clarity, and nervous system regulation.

What’s Actually Getting in the Way?

Focus isn’t just about staying on task—it’s about getting started, knowing what to prioritize, managing distractions, and recovering when your brain short-circuits. If you’ve tried all the timers, to-do lists, or blocking apps and still feel stuck, you’re not broken. Those tools may just not be enough on their own.

That’s why I approach focus with curiosity and compassion—not control.

What Focus Work Can Look Like

When we work together around focus, we’re not just chasing productivity. We’re building the conditions that make focus possible—on your terms.

That could look like:

• Identifying the environments where you feel most alert and grounded

• Breaking down tasks in ways that reduce friction and decision fatigue

• Creating visual supports or accountability structures

• Practicing nervous system regulation strategies that support mental clarity

• Working through the “start block” or “switch cost” that keeps you stuck

We don’t shame your distractions—we work with them. We notice your natural attention patterns. We experiment. We adjust.

Focus Can Be Designed—Not Demanded

Here’s what I believe:

You don’t need to fix your focus.

You need to understand how your focus works—and set things up to meet it where it is.

That might mean fewer tabs open.

Or it might mean a body double, a playlist, a fidget, a post-it system, or a 10-minute “just get into it” rule.

The magic happens when we stop trying to force a version of productivity that doesn’t fit—and start creating supports that actually stick.