[sharms]

This might not help and might sound new age / abstract: meditation is not continuous focus, but is about choosing to focus, letting thoughts pass, and when you recognize you are distracted to consciously let the distracting thought go, and return to focusing on what you intended to.

[hirvi74]

I mean, isn't that what I have always done to begin with? For example, when reading a book, I can sometimes read a whole page without actually internalizing anything my eyes pretended to skim across. (My body can mimic the actions of reading, but my mind is somewhere else, if that makes things more clear).

I have always done this with things like reading, conversations, work, etc.. When distracted I have to refocus myself on whatever I was supposed to be focusing on. Is that some kind of quasi-mediation still or something else?

[krzat]

It's like with exercise, regular life maintains muscles at some low level, but specific techniques (lifting) make it possible to get much stronger.

Same goes with brain, you can train your imagination, focus, mental resilience, happiness via consistent practice.