1: Is it difficult for you to stay focused on something?

Useful expressions:

get distracted from 从……中分心

concentrate on 专注于……

check news feed 查阅新闻推送

chat with friends 和朋友聊天

get addicted to short video app 沉迷于短视频

get glued to the cellphone 粘在手机上了

get things done efficiently 有效率地完成事情

Sample:

Yes, to be honest, I easily get distracted from what I am supposed to do, which is something I’m struggling with. I mean, I just can’t help checking the news feed, watching the short videos on Tiktok or chatting with my friends online. As a result of this, I just can’t get things done efficiently and productively.

2: What do you do to help you concentrate?

Useful expressions:

keep my cellphone away 远离手机

have some coffee 喝点咖啡

refresh my mind 让头脑清醒

avoid multitasking 避免多任务工作

separate each activity into smaller tasks 将事情拆分成小任务

meditate 冥想

mental clarity 头脑清晰

keep calm 保持冷静

Sample:

Normally, I will start my day with a cup of coffee, which can refresh my mind right away. And before I start working, I just keep my cellphone away in case that I might check it every now and then. Sometimes, I will meditate after hours of working, which is super good for mental clarity and concentration. So that I’m more likely to stay focused on whatever I need to do next.

3: When do you need to be focused?

Useful expressions:

work on a project 做项目/课题

write an essay/a paper 写议论文/论文

have a meeting 开会

attend a class/seminar 上课/参加研讨会

miss out something important 错过重要的事情

get things done before the deadline 在截止日期前完成任务

procrastinate on 拖延某事

Sample:

Well, there are a lot of times when I need to stay focused like working on a project, attending seminars and writing a paper. If get distracted while doing them, I might miss out something important or can’t get things done before the deadline, that will be a disaster for me.