This article was reviewed by Allison Broennimann, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Dr. Allison Broennimann is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with a private practice based in the San Francisco Bay Area providing psychotherapy and neuropsychology services. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Broennimann specializes in in-depth psychotherapy to provide solution-focused treatments for anxiety, depression, relationship problems, grief, adjustment problems, traumatic stress, and phase-of-life transitions. And as part of her neuropsychology practice, she integrates depth psychotherapy and cognitive rehabilitation for those recovering after traumatic brain injury. Dr. Broennimann holds a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MS and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University. She is licensed by the California Board of Psychology and is a member of the American Psychological Association.
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If you’re drifting off, staring out into empty space, or zoning out when you want to be focused and present, you’re mentally checking out. This is a common thing for most folks every now and then, but if you’re checking out so often that it’s interfering with your work, relationship, or life, it’s a major sign that something is going on. Perhaps your body is trying to tell you that it’s time for a change, or maybe you just need to reconnect with your passion. In any case, we’re here to help you explore what’s going on so that you can make the changes you need to make to get back to your happiest and most productive self.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
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Never write off your willpower. It’s easy to say, “I can’t stop checking out,” but you can totally just fake it until you make it. Your brain’s ability to focus is a lot like a muscle—if you keep working it out, things will probably improve.[22]Thanks
Warnings
- Don’t avoid getting professional help if you find yourself becoming increasingly more checked out. There are a lot of underlying medical or mental health conditions that can cause a sudden dramatic decline in attention.[23]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7075496/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/boost-your-brain-with-boredom
- ↑ https://www.grouporttherapy.com/blog/mentally-checked-out?ref=themilsource.com
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2023/04/you-checked-out-at-work-heres-how-to-check-back-in
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/diagnosis/index.html
- ↑ https://www.gottman.com/blog/3-steps-reconnect-feel-disconnected-partner/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8981644/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-health-nerd/201911/anchoring-yourself-in-reality
- ↑ https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/February-2022/Boredom-as-a-Symptom
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7075496/
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34085564/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7075496/
- ↑ https://news.columbia.edu/news/why-being-bored-can-be-hazardous-your-health
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642
- ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/introspection-self-reflection/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/mindfulness-exercises/art-20046356
- ↑ https://storage.trailstowellness.org/trails-2/resources/ice-cube-exercise.pdf
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2023/04/you-checked-out-at-work-heres-how-to-check-back-in
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/smarter-living/reconnecting-with-people.html
- ↑ https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/health/signs-its-time-to-see-a-therapist
- ↑ https://www.apa.org/topics/personality/willpower
- ↑ https://mstrust.org.uk/information-support/health-wellbeing/thinking-and-memory-problems