Wall Staring

I really connected with Friday's explanation of focus to the Captain, probably because that's something I really struggle with.  Yes, it's true I have ADD, but doesn't everyone these days? I feel like everyone says they do at least.  More than that though is my generational habit of multi-tasking that has insidiously crossed over into the way I think.  Even when I try not to, I am constantly bombarded by outside thoughts while I'm attempting to do something.  If I'm in class, I find myself thinking about my class after it or even the homework that's due the next day.  If I'm cleaning my room (which is a rare occurence, but we'll just use it for explanation's sake), then I'm thinking about emails I need to send or meetings I need to set up.  Even while I was reading this book, I was thinking about what would go in my blog for the day.  I can't remember the last time I gave all my attention to one particular thing.

When Friday told the Captain that those who are able to focus are not only better at their jobs, but they are also happier, I remembered in an article we read freshmen year during Examined Life there was an author encouraging the same concept.  He stated that there is no such thing as "mental exhaustion", that our minds are not capable of feeling physical fatigue.  However, we do fill it constantly and with pointless information, as Friday also points out.  The author suggested that if we as students would simply focus on the task at hand, it would relieve much of the exhaustion and stress we feel and enable us to improve in our studies. 

My question is, how is this accomplished, and is it even a realistic goal in today's world of multi-tasking?  Focusing on the wall might work for yoga, but it does not exactly help me when I need to be absorbed in my studies.