12 Ways to Boost Concentration at Work

We’ve all experienced how hard it is to get our work done when hundreds of other things are pulling at our focus. We live in a world that is filled with distractions — from kids and partners intruding while working remotely, to coworkers dropping by to say ‘hi’ while in the office, and a near-constant stream of emails, message notifications, social media posts, advertisements, and more all vying for our attention. It’s a wonder we get anything done at all! The ability to tune these distractions out and focus fully on work in the present moment can help you become productive regardless of interruptions. Build your ability to concentrate at work with our favorite focus boosting tips below. 

How to improve your concentration and focus at work

Eliminate online distractions

Email, app, and social media notifications are designed to draw our attention. Limiting these distractions can help you to stay focused while working on other important tasks. Try setting your phone to silent when you need to fully focus on a project. You might also want to minimize any other tabs on your computer and set your work messaging apps to remove any distractions.

Write down what needs to get done

Find a way that works for you to itemize everything you need to accomplish. A written to-do list works for some people, or you might use apps such as Asana, Trello, and other project management software. Having an online or physical board where you can visualize everything you need to do and when it needs to be done helps focus your time and energy on these tasks, rather than getting distracted by other less important projects.

Prioritize your tasks

Once you know what needs to get done in a given day, week, or month, it can be helpful to prioritize your tasks. What is most important? What needs to get done immediately? Thinking this through will help you concentrate on the most important tasks so that you accomplish them faster. This can also help if new projects or requests come up. It may be tempting to say yes to everything, but if you have other priorities established, you’ll know if you have the time to add another project.

Break tasks down into smaller goals

For larger projects, it can be overwhelming to have one deadline looming months out. By breaking down a project into numerous goals that are accomplishable within a shorter timeline, you’ll be able to stress less and focus more on the task at hand. Figure out realistic goals of what you can get done for the project week after week, then give that section your complete focus!

Remove physical distractions

If your workspace is hectic, that’s bound to impact your state of mind. Boost your concentration at work by removing clutter from your desk. Set aside time at the end of every day to tidy up your space, throwing away papers you no longer need, organizing your things, and preparing for the next day. Having a few framed photos or fun mementos in your space can be nice, but if you have too many personal items on your desk it may be distracting, so try to keep it to a minimum.

Create a healthy workspace

An aching back or neck can be a huge distraction. Having an ergonomically comfortable workspace can make a huge difference in how you feel, and your ability to concentrate throughout the day. Try to sit or stand with good posture while working and avoid slouching.

It can also be helpful to work from the same place every single day, especially if you are working from home or have a hybrid work style. Having one designated workspace can help convince your brain that it’s time to work when you are there (rather than working from your couch or bed!).

Get enough sleep

Being tired at work can drastically lower your ability to concentrate — as you know if you’ve ever gone to work after a bad night of rest. Not getting enough sleep has been shown to impact your memory, slow down your thought process, and make learning and retaining information challenging. This can be quite detrimental to your productive workday! To boost your focus and concentration during the workday, try to regularly get around 8 or 9 hours of sleep each night.

Move your body

Regular exercise is an effective way to improve concentration, motivation, and memory. That’s because physical activity boosts the brain's dopamine and serotonin levels, which affect the ability to focus. To take advantage of these amazing benefits, all you need to do is get moving! Find the way you enjoy exercising, whether it’s walking with colleagues at lunch, playing on a competitive league team, lifting weights in the gym, or yoga classes, any form of movement will do.

Set aside time for communication

In this hyper-connected time, it can feel as though you need to respond to emails, texts, and voicemails immediately. However, this isn’t very helpful for your ability to focus while working. If you’re always pausing your work to get back to clients and colleagues, it takes time to refocus on the task at hand after you reply. Some studies have concluded it takes about 20 minutes to fully return your focus to the original task after an interruption! So instead of allowing yourself to get distracted constantly, set aside time specifically for going through your emails and other messages (depending on the work you do, how frequently you’ll need to set aside this time may vary). Then, outside of that time, allow yourself to ignore any non-urgent messages that come in.

Take regular breaks

Taking breaks during work allows your brain to refocus. The mind can get fatigued when working all day but stepping away from computer screens a few times a day gives you a reset. Try taking a quick break every hour or two. All you need is a few minutes away from your computer screen. Then, take longer breaks every four or five hours. Use your lunch break to take a walk, talk to friends, and refresh your brain! You’ll return to the rest of your workday with more focus and concentration. It’s also important to occasionally take vacations and allow yourself to completely disconnect from work for a few days.

Read more

A surprising way you can boost your concentration at work is by reading more in your free time. Books and long-form articles help build your focus and concentration abilities. When so much of what we consume is quick social media videos and 280-character tweets, it can feel challenging to focus on something longer. We become accustomed to instant information. Boost your ability to focus by spending time each week reading books and longer articles. Even choosing a documentary instead of a TV show can help!

Try relaxation techniques

It’s hard to focus when you’re stressed out. Try relaxing and recharging during your workday to boost your concentration. One practice that’s easy to do, even at your desk, is to meditate. Many guided meditation videos exist online. All you need to do is search for one that you like, plug in headphones, and take a few moments to tune out the world around you. Breathing techniques can help you relax. Another relaxation technique you can easily try at your desk is to give yourself a face or hand massage!

Incorporating even one or two of these changes can make a big difference in your concentration levels while working. Try adding a few of these tricks to your daily routine and see if you feel an increase in your ability to focus on your work.