11 During times of focus, your mind wanders.
Similar to thinking about things we are trying to suppress, trying to focus tends to result in our mind wandering. This is especially true when switching between different tasks, creating what is known as “attention residue.” This condition was described by Sophie Leroy, assistant professor of business at the University of Washington, to Time this way: “Let’s say I work on a project right up until I have a meeting. I may be at the meeting, but my brain is still trying to find closure on that project I was working on, so questions and ruminations about that project are interfering with my ability to concentrate.”
Also, practitioners of meditation know this feeling all too well. When you want to focus, your mind wanders. When you let your mind wander, it focuses. So frustrating!
