BrainGames
Expert Insight

How to Improve Focus

Attention blueprints for deep work and gameplay

Attention is a resource—budget it, train it, and defend it from leaks.

9 min readSustained attentionUpdated Jan 5, 2025

Average deep work gain

+26 min

Users after 30 days of ritual + drills

Distraction reduction

-43%

Reported interruptions per session

Engineer Your Environment

Reduce friction by batching distractions: silence notifications, keep only the essential tab open, and set visual cues (closed door, headphones) that broadcast “focus mode”. Environmental design eliminates dozens of micro-decisions that drain attention.

Light matters. Bright, indirect lighting plus cooler room temperatures keep you alert. Pair with neutral playlists or white noise to mask unpredictable sounds.

Schedule Focus Like Training

Use 60–90 minute deep work blocks bracketed by 5-minute resets. Stack difficult tasks early in the day when mental energy is highest and leave administrative work for the afternoon.

Plan “distraction breaks” where you deliberately check messages. Knowing a break is coming makes it easier to ignore impulses mid-block.

Run Attention Drills

Incorporate go/no-go tasks, breath counting, and BrainGames focus circuits to train your ability to return to a stimulus after a distraction. Each rep builds the meta-skill of noticing mind-wandering and snapping back quickly.

Track attention drift in a notebook. Each time you notice your mind wandering, mark the time. Over weeks you should see fewer marks per block.

Support With Biology

Stabilize blood sugar with balanced meals, hydrate every 90 minutes, and consider light movement snacks to refresh catecholamines. Caffeine works best when paired with L-theanine to prevent jitter-induced distractions.

Sleep is still the master switch. Fragmented sleep leads to lapses in attention, so protect consistent nighttime routines.

Action Steps

Create a focus ritual

Use the same sequence (tidy desk, headphones on, timer start) to signal deep work.

Log distractions

Write down every derailment to spot patterns and remove triggers.

Train with deliberate drills

Use BrainGames focus circuits 3x per week to strengthen attentional control.

Recommended Games

Reaction Time

Highlights lapses in attention instantly.

Sequence Memory

Demands sustained focus across patterns.

Related Resources

Focus Exercises

Workout plan dedicated to concentration.

What Is Attention?

Underlying science of focus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need long blocks?

Aim for 60 minutes. Shorter bursts are fine for warmups, but breakthroughs happen in longer, undisturbed intervals.

What about multitasking?

True multitasking does not exist—switching costs destroy focus. Batch tasks instead.