Fractured Focus? Get CRAFTY!

by M elia sto C kha M , p h D

It’s after dinner. Dishes are done and it’s time to relax, right? Not so fast – your son has a game tomorrow. After scouring his room, you find his jersey in a filthy wad under the bed. You toss it in the wash, remembering in a panic that you signed up for snack duty. As you’re rummaging the cabinets for anything that resembles a healthy snack, your daughter asks for help with algebra. You rack your brain trying to remember the order of operations (something about PANDAS?), then finally plop down on the couch. Wow, that evening went fast. The next morning you hear, “Hey Mom, where’s my jersey?” Um, wet in the washer. Whoops.

Or, how about this? Beep-beep-beep! You grab your phone to silence the alarm and see two new email notifications and a calendar reminder. What’s that reminder for? You click it. Wasn’t that cancelled? You go to your email to confirm but start reading new messages instead. Now your mind is spinning with tomorrow’s growing to-do list. You head upstairs to brush your teeth. Bing! Calendar reminder. Wasn’t that cancelled? Oh right, you meant to check on that. You find yourself standing in the middle of your bedroom and can’t remember why.

Your focus is fractured. It’s okay. Everyone’s is. If you’re ready to face fractured focus head on, go ahead and throw your phone out the window – and your kids while you’re at it. Sound ridiculous? So is the idea that you can magically remove every bing, bloop and “Mom!” from your day.

Instead, try adding focus. Even 10 minutes of mindful attention can help increase your sense of calm, boost your overall self-esteem and leave you feeling refreshed.

We’ve all heard about the benefits of meditation and yoga. But here’s another idea – channel your inner Martha Stewart and get crafty.

Crafting simply involves manual dexterity and a little creativity. You don’t need talent or expensive supplies, just an avenue for you to use your mind and your hands in a tactile way. Choose a small activity that you can finish in one sitting or make progress toward a larger project. The results will be the same: a little dopamine boost for the brain that makes you feel accomplished and awesome. n

Project Ideas

Paper Crafts

Making Cards

Folding Origami

Collage & Decoupage

Rolled Paper Beads

Yarn and String Crafts

Knitting & Crochet

Embroidery & Cross-Stitch

Friendship Bracelets

Paint Crafts

Tape Stencils

Pour Painting

Pulled-String Painting

Pen & Pencil Crafts

Coloring Books

Calligraphy Tutorials

Sharpie Dot Ceramics

Household Goods Crafts

Coffee Filter Flowers

Wine Cork Wreaths

Ribbon- or Lace-Wrapped Jars

Painted or Colored Clothespins