17 Proven Ways to Boost Focus and Concentration (Explained!)

In a world loaded with constant distractions and an ever-increasing demand for our attention, the capacity to focus and concentrate has become very challenging. 

Fortunately, there are tried-and-true strategies for improving concentration and productivity. 

Gaining the ability to focus better can increase productivity, reduce stress, and give you a stronger sense of success in many areas of your life. 

The desire for improved focus and concentration is a universal endeavor, regardless of whether you’re a student striving to excel in your exams, a professional trying to flourish at work, or simply someone attempting to rediscover the lost art of undivided attention.

This post will explore several key strategies that have stood the test of time in pursuing heightened focus and concentration. 

1. Avoid multitasking

A 2019 article found that the brain might have trouble multitasking. Multitasking involves carrying out numerous tasks concurrently, which may entail often switching between them.

Attempting to complete numerous things at once puts extra strain on the brain’s attention and focus-related regions, which have limited capacity.

You can enhance concentration by working on one thing at a time and seeing it through to completion.

Additionally, consider taking this Personal Productivity course.  You will learn how to improve your focus and limit distractions. 

2. Get sufficient sleep

Lack of sleep can affect focus and decrease reaction times, so getting enough sleep may aid concentration. Adults typically require seven hours or more of restful sleep each night. 

Here are some sleep-related tips:

• It is crucial to keep a regular sleep schedule, which entails going to bed and waking up at the exact time each day. 
• Exercise every day, but not just before bed
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and other stimulants later in the day
• Have a soothing routine to wind down before bed 
• Create a peaceful sleeping environment

You may also like: What Causes Poor Working Memory? (6 Ways to Fix It!)

3. Practice Mindfulness

There is a good reason why mindfulness is a hot topic right now. Even though mindfulness meditation has been practiced for thousands of years, its numerous health advantages have only recently come to light.

In one study, researchers had human resources specialists simulate the kind of complicated multitasking that they did every day at the office. 

Answering phones, setting up meetings, and drafting memos were among the chores they needed to finish in 20 minutes. 

Information came in from various sources, including phone calls, emails, and text messages.

According to the findings, only individuals who had undergone the 8-week instruction in mindfulness meditation had improved their ability to concentrate and maintain attention.

The meditation group members were better able to focus for extended periods, switched between tasks less frequently, and completed the work faster than the other participant groups.

Meditating is one way to practice mindfulness, but it’s also possible to achieve it with a quick, easy, deep breathing exercise. Although it could look like a relatively simple activity, it is considerably more complex than it first appears. 

Fortunately, you can perform this breathing exercise anywhere, at any time. Eventually, you’ll discover that it gets simpler to shut out unwelcome ideas and put your attention back where it belongs.

4. Take regular short breaks

The American Psychological Association (APA) claims that concentration starts to wane after 30 minutes of sustained attention. The group cites other studies showing that people who took a brief break while performing a visual activity continued to work at a high level for 40 minutes.

Those who didn’t take a break saw their performance drop.

This suggests that regular, brief breaks help people maintain concentration. Even a brief pause could have a beneficial effect.

5. Connect with nature

The benefits of being outdoors extend to cognitive abilities. Urban settings may have a negative impact on attention, but green locations may enhance working memory and concentration.

A 2017 study of preschool and primary school children discovered a connection between growing up near green spaces and performing better on attention tests.

Making time to enjoy nature can improve focus and revitalize your energy.

6. Exercise

Start your day off with a simple physical activity. According to Harvard Health Publishing, regular exercise releases the brain chemicals necessary for memory, focus, and mental clarity. 

Exercise can improve concentration and attention due to an increase in serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

A person who participates in exercise or sports is better able to perform cognitive tasks than a person who does not exercise or partake in sports. 

The benefits of exercise include reducing stress and loosening up muscles. The connection between the body and mind means that when one is feeling better, the other will as well.

Read also: Are There Exercises to Improve Memory?

7. Eat nutritious food

Choose foods that sustain energy levels, control blood sugar, and nourish you. Eat foods abundant in fiber, fruits, and vegetables to help your body maintain stable blood sugar levels. 

Limiting sugary foods and drinks will also help you maintain good health and stabilize your blood sugar levels. Additionally, your body needs plenty of healthy fats. 

Avocados, nuts, berries, and coconut oil are excellent sources of good fats that can enhance cognitive function. 

Foods like blueberries have been shown to improve focus and memory for up to 5 hours after ingestion due to an enzyme that promotes oxygen and blood flow to the brain. 

This helps with memory and our capacity to devote our mental resources to the task or remember new information. 

Potassium, which increases the connections between neurons and can increase our brain’s responsiveness, is found in leafy green vegetables like spinach. 

Other researchers have discovered that omega-3 fatty acids can improve people’s long-term and short-term brain health. High omega-3 fatty acid content foods include: 

• Trout or salmon
• Chia seeds
• Avocados 
• Walnuts
• Flax seeds 

8. Set a daily priority

One way to improve productivity is to choose one priority that you commit to completing each day and create a to-do list for the day, ideally the night before. 

You can concentrate on what really counts by completing the important tasks first and delegating the lesser ones for later. 

Divide big jobs into smaller chunks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Identifying your genuine priorities can help lessen distracting anxiety while achieving tiny daily goals helps rewire your brain for success.

Here is a list of apps that can help you be more productive, including Toggl, which can help you create to-do lists.

9. Listen to music

The therapeutic effects of music on the brain cannot be overstated. Listening to certain types of music may cause distraction. However, listening to soft music can enhance your concentration. 

Experts widely agree that music with lyrics and human voices can disrupt concentration. However, classical music and natural sounds, such as flowing water, are considered good alternatives to help with focus. 

Many applications and services offer background music and soundscapes for different types of work and focus needs.

10. Play games to train your brain

It has been demonstrated that engaging in brain training activities such as games helps adults’ and kids’ cognitive capacities. Games like chess, sudoku, or jigsaw puzzles would be examples of these. 

This is not a “quick fix” option, in contrast to some of the other choices on this list, but the advantages will become clear over extended periods of time. 

Researchers discovered that those who committed to 15 minutes daily, five days a week, profited from it.

11. Choose to focus on the moment

Concentrating when dwelling on the past or stressing about the future is hard. You should consider getting rid of any distractions, whether physical, such as your phone, or psychological, such as your worries, and concentrating only on the present. 

Living in the moment is also essential for regaining your focus. Being fully engaged in the current moment helps you concentrate your thoughts and mental energy on the most vital aspects of that moment.

Developing the ability to live in the present moment is crucial. It may take some time to master, but your current actions can pave the way for a prosperous future and help you avoid repeating past mistakes. 

Remember that the future has not yet occurred, and you cannot change the past. Your primary focus should be taking positive steps now to create a better future.

12. Find your ideal workspace 

Your work environment can significantly impact your capacity to concentrate on a single activity for an extended time. Many people find that the calm buzz of a coffee shop is a setting that encourages intense focus. 

Conversations are going on around you, but they have nothing to do with your job, so they just blend in as background noise. 

Make sure you have a comfortable workspace if you’re working from home. Keep your desk clear of clutter so that it doesn’t become a source of worry. 

Consider playing relaxing nature sounds or some classical music to help you concentrate. Many people appreciate using an ergonomic chair or standing desk to make their bodies comfortable while they work. 

Add inspiring artwork or images of the people and places you love close to your desk.

13. Eliminate distractions

Although it might seem obvious, people frequently need to pay more attention to the number of distractions that make it difficult for them to focus on the task at hand. 

Such invasions could be a background radio playing loud music or a grating coworker who frequently stops by your cubicle to chat.

Keeping these distractions to a minimum is more complex than it sounds. 

While switching off the TV or radio might be easy, dealing with an intrusive coworker, spouse, child, or roommate can be much more difficult.

Setting aside a particular time and place and asking to be left alone during that time is one strategy to handle this. Another option is to look for a quiet area where you can work without being bothered. 

A quiet coffee shop, a private area in your home, or even the library can be good options.

Shut down social media and other apps, turn off notifications, and stash your phone in a bag or backpack. 

Researchers discovered that having the phone out of sight—instead of just being switched off—significantly improved cognitive performance, as reported in HBR.  

Finishing the tasks at hand should be your top priority. If you have difficulty concentrating, turn off both mental and external distractions.

14. Use a timer

You may teach your brain to focus intensely on a subject using a timer or phone alarm. Choose the assignment you want to finish first. 

Focus on one task for the allotted 20 minutes (usually no longer than 30). 

Rest for 5 minutes after your alarm goes off. Alternatively, go for a stroll and do some stretching exercises before starting over with a new timer. 

15. Avoid skipping breakfast

Do you get sidetracked throughout the day because you’re a little hungry? Eat a breakfast rich in proteins and fiber to keep you satisfied for a long time to start the day. 

Also, stay hydrated during the day because dehydration might be another distraction. 

You’ll be able to approach problems with clarity and practical problem-solving skills by providing your body with the nutrients it needs. 

16. Switch tasks

Even though we might wish to stay focused on a single task, there are instances when we become stuck and need something else to focus on. Try switching to something else, preferably something you enjoy doing. 

You can maintain your focus and productivity for longer by changing projects.

17. Keep practicing

Improving your ability to concentrate mentally requires time and repetition. One of the first steps towards improving your life is recognizing the impact of distractions on you. 

If you need help to achieve your goals and find yourself easily sidetracked by unimportant details, it may be time to reevaluate how you prioritize your time. 

Time is a valuable resource that you should use wisely.

You can accomplish more when you increase your mental focus and concentrate on the things in life that make you happy, joyful, and successful.

Takeaway: The secret to maximizing our time is to boost our focus and concentration

Many things can divert your attention. Nevertheless, there are numerous ways to thwart these attention-suckers and maintain a laser-like focus, such as refraining from multitasking, getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness, and exercising.

Enhancing attention can benefit so many other aspects of life. If you can concentrate better, you will accomplish more in less time and feel more confident in your abilities. 

Are you ready to improve your ability to concentrate and recall information? Discover the keys to maximizing your cognitive potential by enrolling in our Maximizing Memory course today!