How to improve focus and concentration: 17 tips to sharpen your mind

Focus slips easily, especially when your brain is juggling too much at once. Between constant notifications, a cluttered to-do list, and mental fatigue, staying focused takes more than good intentions. 

The problem? Most people were never taught how to concentrate in the first place.

But here’s the thing: Focus isn’t fixed. That means, with the right habits, tools, and mindset, you can train your brain to concentrate better and stay on track.

This blog article shares 17 practical, science-backed tips to help you focus better, concentrate better, and increase attention span.

What affects your ability to focus and concentrate?

Focus takes discipline. It’s also shaped by your environment, physical health, and mental habits. If your concentration feels weaker than it used to be, one or more of these factors might be part of the reason:

• Stress: High stress levels flood the brain with cortisol, making it harder to stay present.
  
  
• Fatigue: When you’re tired, your brain has to work harder just to keep up.
  
  
• Poor sleep: Sleep helps consolidate memory and clear away mental “clutter.” If you’re experiencing sleep deprivation, its effects can result in your focus quickly fading.
  
  
• Multitasking: Trying to do too many things at once divides your attention and slows your progress.
  
  
• Information overload: A constant stream of notifications and messages can fragment your attention throughout the day.
  
  
• Poor diet: Your brain needs fuel. Without the right nutrients, it won’t run well.
  
  
• Alcohol use: Even occasional drinking can impact short-term memory and focus.
  
  
• Medication side effects: Some prescriptions reduce alertness or concentration.
  
  
• Underlying conditions: ADHD, anxiety, or depression can make it harder to concentrate.

Understanding these causes helps you start to take control. From here, it’s about building better habits.

17 tips on how to increase focus and concentration

These habits combine small behavior changes, mental exercises, and tools to help improve concentration and strengthen your ability to stay on task. 

1. Minimize digital distractions

Phones and constant notifications break your concentration faster than you think.

How to try it: Silence non-urgent notifications, set your phone to “do not disturb,” and try app blockers or designated “phone-off” hours during focus time.

2. Practice guided meditation

Guided meditation builds awareness and helps your brain return to the present when it starts to drift.

Try this: Use a meditation app like Balance to guide your practice. Just five minutes a day can make a difference.

3. Play brain games to train focus

Games that challenge memory, processing speed, and attention can help strengthen concentration over time.

Give it a try: Explore Elevate’s concentration games to make focus-building fun and easy.

4. Use the Pomodoro technique

This time management method uses short work sessions (like 25 minutes) followed by short breaks to keep your energy high.

5. Prioritize sleep

Not only does sleep feel so good—it’s also essential for attention and memory. Skipping it for the sake of productivity has the opposite effect.

Try this: Set a regular bedtime, avoid screens for 30 minutes before sleep, or use a sleep meditation app to wind down.

6. Train your focus like it’s a muscle

Focus improves with regular training, especially when tasks are tailored to your skill level.

Use this: Elevate’s 40+ brain training games exercises for better focus build attention and mental agility.

7. Exercise regularly

Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, improving alertness and mood.

Tip: Even short walks or stretch breaks between tasks can improve your ability to concentrate.

8. Stay hydrated

Your brain needs water to function. Even mild dehydration can lead to headaches, low energy, and poor concentration.

Reminder: Keep a water bottle nearby and sip throughout the day.

9. Eat for brain health

Your brain runs on nutrients. Choose foods that support memory, focus, and clarity.

Try these: Berries, leafy greens, eggs, walnuts, fatty fish, and whole grains.

10. Set clear goals for each session

A specific goal helps your brain know where to focus, instead of trying to do everything at once.

Example: Instead of “study history,” try “review 3 chapters and take notes.”

11. Tackle high-focus tasks first

Do your most mentally demanding work earlier in the day when your energy is highest.

Learn more: Read about the “Eat the Frog” technique here. 

12. Practice single-tasking

Multitasking splits your focus and makes everything take longer.

Try this: Focus on one task at a time, and give it your full attention until it's complete.

13. Create a dedicated focus space

The right environment helps your brain know it’s time to work.

Tips: Keep your desk clutter-free, use noise-canceling headphones, and sit near natural light when possible.

14. Take intentional breaks

Regular breaks help recharge your focus and reduce fatigue.

Try this: Go outside, listen to music, or use a breathing exercise app for a quick reset.

15. Reframe negative self-talk

What you tell yourself matters. If you constantly say “I can’t focus,” your brain believes it.

Try this: Shift your thinking to “I’m learning how to focus better.” 

16. Try new challenges

Learning new things, like a language or skill, engages your brain and sharpens your focus over time.

Idea: Set a small goal—like 5 minutes of learning a day—and build from there.

17. Reduce background noise

If you're easily distracted by sound, try quiet music, white noise, or noise-canceling tools to help you stay centered.

All of these tips are designed to help focus in on where it matters most—the task in front of you.

How long does it take to improve focus and concentration?

That depends on what’s causing the distraction. Some strategies—like turning off notifications or drinking more water—can show immediate results. Others, like meditation or brain training, may take a few weeks of consistency.

Improving focus is a long-term investment. Think of it as building your brain’s strength. Each small effort adds up.

How to focus better with the right tools

Good habits are powerful—but combining them with the right tools can help you make progress even faster.

The Elevate app is designed to help people train their brain in just a few minutes a day. With concentration games and a personalized focus training app, you can build sharper attention, faster thinking, and better memory—anytime, anywhere.

Start building focus that lasts

Focus isn’t something you either have or don’t. It’s something you can grow. With the right approach, you can improve your concentration, increase focus, and enhance concentration. And it’s as easy as practicing a few of our tips each day. 

To make it even easier, try the Elevate app. The app helps you improve your focus with quick, personalized brain games designed by experts in cognitive science.

Download Elevate and start training your brain today—for free.