31/08/2026
SPECIAL OFFER - introductory session £30!
Where's your attention? What do you pay attention to? Do you have different attentional focus in different situations?
Looking at the model below and thinking about a performance (it might be work, sport, social), can you think about what you typically focus on?
To give a 'run race' example:
A Broad External focus might mean you have considered the race venue in general terms (i.e. its in a small town in the North of England), you might check the long-range weather and see that its looks like it will be dry. Great you think, this suits you.
A Narrow External focus might mean you have researched the race venue in terms of how many minutes it takes to get from your accommodation to the event start, you have also noted that there are horrid porta-loos and these make you want to vomit🤢,and you are worried that the forecast says it might rain at 8am.
A Broad Internal focus might mean that while you have considered the race venue (small town in North of England), you know that map-reading and even using your sat-nav to find places makes you feel nervous and you recall missing a previous event 'cos you got it so wrong. You feel quite sick at the prospect of driving to the race alone. You can also feel yourself sweating. You think you might mess up your whole race because of navigation issues pre-event. Yet, you know you've prepared well in terms of fitness and training.
A Narrow Internal focus might mean you relish the prospect of the race start. Visualising what you will wear, how you want to feel; breathing and focusing on the 'pace' you want to start, with a defined vision of running in the front group unhindered. You can almost feel yourself executing your technical running skills - cornering, ascending, descending and moving on to nailing the finish. You can hear, smell, taste, feel what this means.
If you want to find out more about yourself (and your attention style), book a session with me [email protected].
Watch out for more special offers and group work sessions.
Nideffer (1976)