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

June 11, 2025

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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.

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:

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.” 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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