Simultaneous actions (á meðan)

To describe two actions happening at the same time, link them using the conjunction á meðan (while).

Á meðan is a subordinating conjunction. The clause that follows it uses standard subject-verb word order.

I photocopy the memo while you answer the email.
Ég ljósrita minnisblaðið á meðan þú svarar tölvupóstinum.
She scans the contract while I photocopy it.
Hún skannar samninginn á meðan ég ljósrita hann.
The project manager organizes the project while we take a coffee break.
Verkefnastjórinn skipuleggur verkefnið á meðan við tökum kaffipásu.

Finding Your Focus

You can talk about focus using the noun einbeitingin (the concentration) or the reflexive verb að einbeita sér (to concentrate). Notice how they pair with á meðan to describe working through distractions.

the concentration
einbeitingin
I cannot concentrate while they photocopy the document.
Ég get ekki einbeitt mér á meðan þau ljósrita skjalið.
The project manager organizes the calendar while the concentration is good.
Verkefnastjórinn skipuleggur dagatalið á meðan einbeitingin er góð.