Restorative Focus: A New Way to Pay Attention

What if paying attention didn’t have to be so hard?

For many of us—especially those with ADHD, sensory sensitivity, or creative, nonlinear minds—traditional ideas of focus can feel exhausting or even punishing. We're told to sit still, tune out distractions, and worst of all—force your mind to behave.

But what if there’s another way?

What if focus could be gentle?

What if attention could restore us instead of drain us?

Current research and lived experience share a core insight: ADHD brains tend to process information in nonlinear or “hyperlink” ways. Rather than following predictable, stepwise logic, those with ADHD often “jump” between ideas, making connections others miss, and excelling in creative and integrative thinking. This “ping-pong” or web-like cognition can be advantageous for innovation and problem-solving, but may challenge conventional definitions of focus and productivity.

Growing evidence suggests mindfulness is a helpful tool to help neurodivergent minds harness their strengths while improving well-being and focus. It has certainly helped me.

That’s the heart of restorative focus—a practice I developed out of necessity and refined through years of working with students and clients who were tired of being told to “try harder.” This approach meets your brain where it is, not where someone else says it should be.

Science and clinical insight now recognize neurodivergence—including the nonlinear mind—as a source of creative power. Mindfulness, when adapted, enables individuals to:

• Embrace their cognitive style rather than viewing it as a deficit.

• Redefine focus—not as rigid concentration, but as restorative attention that honors the brain’s natural rhythm between task, reflection, and creative wandering.

• Build compassionate self-awareness, transforming focus from an externally imposed ideal into a personally meaningful strength.

If you're interested in learning more, check out my course Restorative Focus on Insight Timer.