If your mind wanders off before you finish reading this sentence, you’re not alone. For many people—especially those recovering from the virus or juggling work and child care—brain fog and inattention have been collateral damage.
Todd Braver, a psychological and brain sciences professor at Washington University in St. Louis, says that’s completely normal. Research has shown that concentration, memory and cognition suffer when people are under stress and anxiety. The brain is good at responding to short bursts of stress, but it’s not as good at operating under constant, low-grade pressure.
If this sounds familiar, here is how you can improve your concentration and attention span, even, as Braver says, “while the world is literally sick.”
