Why Can’t I Focus

Many students struggle with focus, a capacity that can be influenced by personal, environmental and academic factors – topics that were explored in a new workshop called “Why Can’t I Focus?”

In winter 2024, after noticing that maintaining focus was a growing concern for students, Accessibility Services, the Centre for Learning Strategy Support and Health & Wellness came together to pilot this workshop with the goal of supporting students with attention challenges.

The new, two-hour session helped students understand the definition of attention and how their challenges with inattention impacted their experiences in and out of class. It also provided an opportunity for the participants to explore strategies they could use to reclaim their focus.

At the end of February, in the middle of reading week, 27 students came to Student Commons to explore how to address attentional challenges with two learning strategists and a psychologist. After connecting with each other over common challenges and enjoying a free lunch, students walked away with new strategies to train, recharge and re-focus their attention.