Let’s be honest — we’ve all struggled to maintain focus and concentration at one point or another. Getting into focus mode is becoming more and more difficult nowadays with all the distractions that are constantly around us.

Not being able to concentrate on the task at hand hinders lowers our morale, leaves to-do lists unchecked, and deadlines unmet.

Tired of procrastinating and pulling those all-nighters? Here are some of the best focus hacks that will set you up for more productive days ahead.

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Tables of Contents

Environment and Setup Hacks

Dedicated Work or Study Space

Find a comfortable spot in your room, set up the things you’ll need, and designate it as your personal workspace. When you enter your work area, your brain will automatically know that it’s time to focus and get things done. Also, make sure that your workspace is well-lit and clear of any distractions that might interrupt your focus.

Planning to optimize your workspace but have no idea where to start? Here are some ideas for your minimalist desk setup or college desk setup.

Customizable Soundscapes

If you’re struggling to focus and want to drown out distracting noises, putting on some ambient noises or soundscapes is the perfect solution. Choose from white noise, nature sounds, or even lofi music to curate the ideal sound environment to stay in the zone. Remember to choose songs without lyrics to prevent those catchy tunes from disrupting your focus.

Check out our roundup of the best ambient sound and background noise websites for studying!

Digital Detox

Ever found yourself scrolling through social media for hours when you only planned on taking a 5-minute break? Often, our devices and notifications completely disrupt our flow state. Check out tools like SelfControl to block certain websites, or even put your phone in a separate room to stop you from picking it back up.

Time Management Hacks

Pomodoro Method

The Pomodoro method has garnered a huge following over the past few years, and for good reason — it’s one of the best strategies out there to stay focused while allowing breaks in between. If a regular phone timer for your Pomodoro sessions is starting to get boring, try using aesthetic timers like Flocus or StudyWithMe for your next study or work session.

Are you looking for a twist on the traditional Pomodoro? Try using the Animedoro method and an Animedoro timer if watching anime is right up your alley.

Schedule Your Day

As they say, planning is half the battle. Our brain is more likely to focus when it’s prepared for what lies ahead. That said, creating a detailed schedule of your activities and sticking to it ensures you’re maximizing the 24 hours in your day.

Check out our list of the best Notion planner and schedule templates that are perfect for mapping out your upcoming days, weeks, and months.

Productivity Tools

Living in a digital era, we’ve been blessed with tons of productivity tools right at our fingertips to use at our disposal. From Notion templates, to study timers and aesthetic study websites, we can get all the help we need to stay focused while studying or working.

Check out tools like Flocus, a 3-in-1 browser-based dashboard for focus and relaxation — complete with aesthetic themes, a Pomodoro timer, and more.

Study Focus Hacks

Declutter Your Mind

When distracting thoughts pop up, jot them down on a notepad. This simple technique can clear all thoughts that could disrupt your attention during your work or study sessions. Leaving those unimportant thoughts in your mental trash bin will help divert all your energy into the task at hand.

If you prefer digital note-taking, here are some of the best online notepad websites and tools that will help you save ideas for later.

Prioritize Tasks

Attempting to juggle multiple things at once is never a good idea — handling tasks one at a time is both more productive and less stressful. Learn to prioritize your daily tasks by choosing the most important tasks to accomplish first before moving onto your next one.

Check out our selection of the best Notion to-do list and task list templates!

“Study With Me” Videos

Have you always wanted to have that perfect study partner at any time? Try using “study with me” videos to keep you in focus mode as you work alongside your virtual buddy. Can’t choose from the thousands of options you see online? Here are some of the best “study with me” videos that are perfect for your next study session.

Mindset and Attitude Hacks

Goal-Setting

Not having goals before starting your day is a recipe for disaster. You’ll end up doing unproductive things to fill in your hours — leading you farther away from your goals rather than towards them. Maintaining focus becomes a breeze as you navigate your tasks with clear intention.

Here are some of the best Notion goals templates that you can use to track your short-term and long-term goals with ease. Looking for an extra dose of inspiration? Check out our curated list of the best motivational study quotes!

‘That Girl’ Mindset

By being inspired to become the best version of ourselves, we can be more focused and committed to tasks that benefit us in the long-run. The ‘That Girl’ mindset highlights the importance of being productive in work or study, while not forgetting other aspects of our lives like mental health, nutrition, fitness, social activities, and everything in between.

Ready to take on this challenge? Check out these aesthetic morning routine ideas and ’That Girl’ Notion templates to help you become “That Girl” at work or at school.

Gamification

Wanna add some excitement to your daily routine? Challenge yourself to surpass previous study times, or unlock rewards after accomplishing specific tasks. This method makes working fun and fulfilling, which will keep motivating you to stay focused and improve!

Health and Well-Being Hacks

Regular Breaks

Studying or working for long hours can lead to burnout and really harm your mental health. Make sure to give your brain a breather by regularly taking breaks. You’ll feel much more refreshed when returning to your tasks.

It’s important to spend these breaks wisely and make every second worth it. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best Pomodoro break ideas for you to mix into your focus routine.

Mindfulness Exercises

Feeling overwhelmed or anxious about an upcoming presentation? Try to incorporate deep breathing exercises or meditation into your routine to relieve stress. By keeping your thoughts organized and mental space in check, getting into your flow state becomes that much easier.

Check out our compilation of the best breathing exercise websites that will help ease any stress during your busy periods! You can also check out mood tracking and journaling tools to stay in touch with your emotions and mindfulness.

Get Enough Sleep

Pulling an all-nighter might seem like a good way to get things done, but sacrificing those precious hours of sleep affects your ability to focus and stay productive in the long-run. Prioritize 7-9 hours of sound sleep each night to sharpen your attention during your work or study sessions. You can always function more clearly and effectively with adequate sleep.

That wraps up some of our top focus and concentration hacks! Make small improvements each day, and soon enough you’ll be going through those work sessions with full focus.

Are we missing any concentration or focus hacks? Do you have any tips for staying focused that you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below!

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