How to Get Better at Focusing on Your Work

Does your brain ever feel like it has too many windows open? You want to do a big job, but then a message pops up. You answer it. Then you go back to your work. But then a new email shows up.

This happens to a lot of people. It is not because you are lazy. Your brain is made to notice all the little things that happen during the day.

Why Is It Hard to Focus at Work?

Every little stop makes your brain start over. It's like trying to read a good book when someone keeps tapping your shoulder. You lose your spot. Trying to find it again is harder than reading. This start-and-stop makes you tired. It makes it hard to think deep.

What a Quick Stop Really Costs

The thing that steals your focus is not the time you take to answer an email. It’s the time it takes your brain to get back to what you were doing before. This is like a hidden rule that makes you tired and slow.

This is a real thing. It takes about 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to work after just one stop. Think about how many messages you get in one hour. It's why many people say they only do good work for 60% of the day. The rest is lost to these stops. You can see more facts about this in the 2023 workplace productivity report.

"The problem is not that you don't want to focus. The problem is your job makes you look at too many things at once. To focus, you need to protect your mind space, not just try harder."

It's About Your Brain's Power, Not Just Time

Think of your focus like a phone battery. Each time you switch jobs—like from writing to checking a message and back—you use up a little power. The job itself might not be the hard part. It's the switching that makes you feel tired by the afternoon.

So, learning how to improve focus at work is not about trying harder when you are tired. It’s about making your work area a place where your brain doesn't have to fight so hard. When you see that stops are the real enemy, you can make simple rules to protect your brain's power. Then, deep work feels easy and normal.

Make a Work Area with No Distractions

Your desk and computer can be your best friends or your worst enemies for focus. I found that making a "focus fort" is a great way to help your brain know it's time for deep work. This is more than just cleaning up. It's making a calm, quiet place on purpose.

When your space is clear, your mind can be clear too. When you get rid of things that grab your attention, like a messy desk or noisy pop-ups, you give your brain a chance to do important work without a fight.

Tame Your Computer Mess

Let's be real: our computers are often the biggest problem. The messages that never stop, and that one browser with 37 tabs open—it's all digital noise. It breaks our focus. Each pop-up asks your brain to switch jobs, making it very hard to get back to your real work.

Today's jobs are built on these digital stops. Too much tech is a real problem. Workers now use 20% more tools and apps than they used to. A report from Mercer's 2023-2024 workplace report says that switching between things like Slack, Gmail, and other tools breaks our attention. It makes deep work feel far away.

This picture shows the main "focus thieves" we all face.

As you can see, every stop makes our brain start over. Over time, this makes us tired, uses up our brain's battery, and can make us feel burned out.

To fight back, try these simple computer fixes:

• Turn Off Sounds for Things That Can Wait: Go into your computer and phone settings. Be strong. Turn off pop-ups for anything that is not super important right now.
• Try One Window: Try to work with only one browser window open. Keep only the tabs you need for the job you are doing right now.
• Pick Times to Check In: Instead of always checking your email, pick certain times to look. Maybe do it once every hour.

The goal is not to ignore people. The goal is to choose when you give your attention. Protecting your computer space is just as important as cleaning your desk.

Set Up Your Desk for Focus

The things around you send secret messages to your brain. A desk with old cups, papers, and sticky notes makes you feel messy inside. A clean desk sends the opposite message: "This is a place for calm, clear thinking."

Think about what you see. If your desk looks at a busy hall or a TV, your eyes will wander. One of the easiest changes I made was to turn my desk to face a wall. It got rid of many things that could grab my attention. You can also look at our guide on the best tools for remote workers for more ideas.

Here is a quick list to help you build your focus fort—both the real one and the one on your computer.

Your Desk vs. Your Screen Focus Fort List

Making your space ready for focus doesn't have to be a big job. Just get used to asking one simple question: Does this thing help me with my work right now? If the answer is no, move it. This small, regular action teaches your brain that your desk is for one thing: deep work with no stops.

The Power of Doing One Thing at a Time

Our brains are not made to do many things at once, even if we think we can. Trying to do many hard jobs at once is like trying to listen to three songs at the same time. It all turns into noise. The real secret to doing good work is to do one thing at a time.

Doing one thing at a time is very simple. You give all your attention to one job until it's done or until you get to a good stopping place. It is the opposite of doing many things at once, which makes us feel busy but not like we got much done.

When you focus on just one thing, your work is better and you feel less stressed. You also get to feel good about finishing things. You end your day with a clear list of things you did, not just a feeling of being "busy."

Give Your Jobs an Appointment

A great way to do one thing at a time is called time blocking. It is just what it sounds like. You put your jobs on your calendar, just like you would put a meeting.

Let's say you have a big report to write. Instead of hoping you find time, you block out one hour on your calendar. You can name it "Write Big Report." During that hour, the report is all you do. No emails, no messages, no quick questions.

When you put your focus time on your calendar, you are telling your brain—and the people you work with—that this time is for important work. This simple plan makes it easier to say no to things that pop up.

For this to work, you must treat these appointments like you would a meeting with your boss. This small change in how you think is one of the fastest ways to start getting your most important work done.

See Time Blocking at Work

This is not just for huge jobs. Time blocking is great for your daily work too. The goal is to make a clear map for your day. That way, your brain doesn't waste power trying to decide what to do next. Seeing a plan is a big step to learn how to improve focus at work.

Here is what it could look like for different jobs:

• For a Person Who Manages Projects: Block 45 minutes every morning to "Read What Users Say." This gives you time to learn from customers without it messing up your day.
• For a Person Who Designs Software: Plan a two-hour deep work time in the afternoon to "Draw New Feature." This protects a big chunk of time for thinking hard and being creative.
• For a Person Who Does Marketing: Make a 30-minute block at the end of the day to "Answer Team Emails." This stops you from checking email all day. You do it all at once.

Putting jobs on your calendar turns "I should do this" into "I will do this." To learn more, you can read about the best practices for time management that will help you make a plan that works for you. This habit helps you take back control of your time and power for the work that matters.

Give Your Brain a Break—The Smart Way

Have you ever tried to work all day without stopping? It’s like driving a car with no gas. Your car will stop. Your brain is the same. It needs to take small breaks to get its power back and stay sharp. This is a big secret to getting better at focusing.

Taking a break is one of the best things you can do for your work. But here’s a tip: not all breaks are the same. Looking at your phone or reading the news can actually use up your brain's battery even more. It can make you feel less focused than before.

Why Your Brain Needs a Break

When you work on one job for too long, your brain gets tired of paying attention. Think of it like a muscle that gets sore from staying in one spot. This brain tiredness makes it hard to think clearly and solve problems. A real break, even a short one, lets your brain rest and start fresh.

This fresh start is very important to avoid feeling burned out and to stay interested in your work. But many people are running on empty. A 2022 study showed that 60% of workers feel disconnected from their work. Only 21% said they feel excited about their job. It's very hard to focus when you don't feel connected to what you're doing. You can look at the numbers in this full employee engagement report to see how a good work place helps people focus.

A break is not about running away from your work. It's about coming back to your work with more power and a clearer head. Think of it like a good investment for your next hour of work.

Smart Breaks You Can Take in Five Minutes

You don't need a whole hour or a fancy plan to hit the reset button. Small, smart breaks called "microbreaks" can work very well. The secret is to do something that has nothing to do with your work.

Here are a few simple ideas that really give your brain power back, not just distract you:

• Look Out a Window: Just spend a few minutes looking outside. Looking at things that are far away is a great way to rest your eyes after they have been looking at a screen up close.
• Stretch Your Body: Get up and stretch your arms, neck, and back. This helps your blood move and gets rid of the tight feelings from sitting for a long time.
• Take a Quick Walk: A five-minute walk, even just to the kitchen for water and back, is enough to clear your head and change how you feel.
• Listen to One Song: Put on your headphones, close your eyes, and just listen to a song you like. It's like a quick vacation for your ears that pulls you away from work thoughts.

These small stops are like a refresh button for your brain. They stop the tired feeling, helping you come back to your desk feeling sharper and ready to focus again.

Your Simple Daily Focus Plan

Knowing how to improve focus is one thing. Making it a habit is the real work. The goal is not to change your whole day at once. It's about making a simple plan that is easy to do, one that doesn't need a lot of time or effort to start.

This plan is all about starting small. A small win at the start of your day makes it much easier to keep your focus later. Soon, you'll feel like you are in charge of your day, not the other way around.

Start With Your One Big Thing

Before you look at emails or go to meetings, take just five minutes to think. Ask yourself: what is the one job that, if I finish it today, will make the biggest difference? This is your Most Important Task (MIT).

Don't list three or five things. Just one. Picking just one thing cuts through all the noise. It gives your day a clear, strong path from the start.

Picking your one most important job first thing in the morning is a great way to make sure your best power goes to your most important work, not just to the urgent things that show up.

For example, a writer’s one big thing might be "write the first part of the big report." A project manager’s might be "finish the job list for our next plan." The key is to make it a real action you can finish. This one choice makes everything else simpler.

Plan Your First Focus Block

Once you have your one big thing, put it on your calendar. Don't just hope you'll do it—plan for it. Start small with one 30-minute focus time each morning.

This simple act of time blocking does a few key things:

• It makes you promise: A time on your calendar feels real and is harder to skip.
• It saves your time: It tells you (and others) that this time is already taken.
• It builds the habit: Doing this at the same time every day teaches your brain to get ready for focus time.

As this becomes normal, you can add more focus times or make them longer. To learn more about planning, our guide on how to increase productivity has more good ideas.

Your Daily 3-Step Focus Plan

This simple table shows you the plan in easy steps. It is made to be so easy you can start tomorrow morning.

The magic is not in changing your whole life overnight. It's about doing it every day. By using this simple plan every day, you build a strong habit. It makes deep, good work a normal part of your day.

Have Questions? Let's Talk About Staying Focused

Starting a new focus plan is one thing, but making it stick is another. It's normal to have problems. Learning to focus better takes time. Let's talk about some common questions and problems people have.

Think of this as a help guide. The idea is to give you real answers so you can change your plan and keep getting better, even when focusing feels hard.

How Long Should I Really Try to Focus?

Forget about trying to focus for hours and hours. Your brain is not made to do that. The real secret is to work with your brain's natural power, not against it.

Start with small bits of time. Try setting a timer for just 25 to 45 minutes of work. This is a great amount of time for a reason. It’s the main idea behind famous methods like the Pomodoro Technique. When the timer goes off, take a real five-minute break. Walk away from your desk, stretch, get water—do anything but look at a screen.

Working in these short bursts is much better than working for hours. It helps you avoid feeling burned out and keeps your brain power high all day.

This small change makes big jobs feel less scary. Also, every time you finish a focus session, you get a small win. This helps you get ready for the next one.

What If My Job Needs Me to Be Ready All the Time?

This is a hard one. It's true for many of us, especially in jobs where we work with others a lot. The feeling that you have to answer right away on Slack or Microsoft Teams is one of the biggest focus-killers. The answer is not to hide, but to tell people what you are doing.

A simple status update can change everything. Try writing something like "Working deep until 2 PM – will answer then" or "Focusing on the big report." This small message tells people you are not ignoring them; you are just working hard.

You’ll find that most "urgent" messages can wait an hour. By setting these simple rules, you do two important things:

• You make and protect the quiet time you need for deep work.
• You keep your good name as a helpful person on your team.

Are There Any Apps That Really Help With Focus?

Yes, but with one big warning: the best tools are the ones that get rid of distractions, not add new ones. You don't need another app sending you messages. You want tools that help you make a quieter, simpler work area.

Instead of trying complex apps, look for simple tools that do one thing very well.

• Website blockers are great for keeping you off social media or news sites when you are in a focus time.
• Noise-canceling apps can do amazing things. They can block out background noise during calls so everyone can focus on the talk.

In the end, the right tool should feel like it's not even there. It's there to help you do your best work, not be another thing to manage.

Ready to stop typing and start talking? WriteVoice transcribes your speech into clean, formatted text inside any application you use. Ditch the keyboard and capture your ideas instantly. Try WriteVoice for free and see how much time you can save.