10 Ways To Improve Concentration At Work

June 10 2022

What does the concentration mean?

When trying to understand what does concentration mean, it can be difficult to define any one thing. For example, is concentration a matter of focus, or the awareness of a situation? Does it require an element of self-orientation or control, or an ability to effectively divide time, effort and attention to different things?

In many cases, it can be all of these aspects and even more, which is why it can sometimes be so hard to pin down. This doesn’t mean that it’s impossible though. In fact, some individuals may find that it’s not too challenging at all when they know what to look out for and how to hone their concentration skills.

With focus and prioritisation comes the potential to excel in both the working environment and the wider world – and the good news is that it’s a skill that you can learn and master for a better work/life balance.

Interested in learning more? Here's everything to need to know about how to improve focus and concentration at work

Factors that affect concentration at work

Depending on your unique situation and capabilities, there can be a wide array of different things that impact your attentiveness. Here are 10 examples of things that may influence your concentration, as well as how you could boost focus in the workplace:

1. Stress

One of the biggest factors that contribute to a lack of focus at work is stress. While feeling frazzled will impact your drive, the effects of stress on the body and mind can actually have a deeper significance; decreased cognitive function. This means that minimising stress in the workplace can be especially important, so be sure to talk to your bosses for assistance.

2. The working environment

Where you work and the general distractions you face can impede your ability to complete necessary tasks. If it’s too loud or quiet, if the colour scheme is off-putting, if there are lots of people walking around and even if you feel uncomfortable at your desk, you could be working at a reduced capacity. Even simple things could make a difference, so it really can be worth evaluating the area to consider what things may be impacting your ability to focus.

3. Any kind of distractions

Whether you’re sorting through emails or find that noises in the workplace draw your attention, a wide array of distractions would generally make a big difference in your ability to concentrate on the task at hand. This may not just be based on your environment, as things like having notifications turned on on your phone turned could be enough to take your mind off work.

4. Quality of information

Your ability to work is directly related to the information you receive, both from your co-workers and your employees. If you have wrong or limited info, you may find yourself struggling to concentrate, or you may have to come away from your work to get clarity.

5. Bad diet and nutrition

If you don’t eat properly, your body will send out signals to your brain that can affect your concentration levels. You need to have a healthy attitude to eating, so be sure to implement essential fatty acids, protein and vitamins (including B and D) as well as iron for better mental function.

6. Hunger and dehydration

Hunger and a lack of hydration can also have a huge influence on how well you work. Eating regularly helps to balance blood sugar levels and dehydration is a definitive side effect of loss of focus, so be sure to eat and drink throughout the day.

7. Lower willpower

In most cases, simply having a lower level of confidence and energy will have a negative impact on an individual’s ability to focus on their work. Whether this is an issue within the workplace or outside of it, not having the willpower to get through certain tasks isn’t great for concentration.

8. Poor timekeeping

Knowing how to properly utilise time can be an essential factor in keeping your focus. For many of those who struggle with tracking time, simply being able to allocate set amounts of time to different tasks can be a great way to maintain higher levels of attention.

9. Memory

Many people will find that memorisation can often be linked to concentration too. Due to the many different attributes that memory can play a role in, your ability to retain information and memorise things will usually be important to your focus and it’s something worth considering if you want to improve it.

10. Burnout

There are so many people who don’t know how to identify when they’re burning out. When you run out of energy, it’s often going to be far harder to put out the same level of work or give the same level of attention and effort. Just taking a break can often make a significant difference.

How to improve focus and concentration at work?

When considering how to stay concentrated at work or even how to increase concentration at work it’s no secret that defining your needs will be your best asset. Take a closer look at the things that distract you and aim to correct them in the simplest ways. So, what helps with concentration? While there are generally many things that can boost attentiveness, being proactive about improving your current setup and maximising your own potential are two excellent examples.

7 benefits of being concentrated at work

Now that we’ve gone through a variety of tips and other pieces of advice that could give you a helping hand, you may have a better idea of why it’s so important. Even so, it’s worth noting some of the different advantages that it has to offer.

Here are a few benefits when you want to increase concentration – you’ll be able to: