How to Improve Focus in a Busy Workplace

I used to jump straight into work. No plan. No warm-up. Just brute force focus. If this sounds like you, here is a focus warmup routine that might work for you. ✨ Purpose This short warmup helps you shift from scattered to sharp. It’s designed to get you mentally centered, reduce distractions, and prepare your brain to enter a focused work state – even if you’re feeling a bit off. You can complete the full sequence in about 5–10 minutes, or pick a few steps that suit your current state. 🧭 The Focus Warmup Flow Step 1️⃣: Signal the Shift (1 minute) Choose one small ritual to mark the transition into focus mode: - Light a candle or turn on a focus lamp - Put on noise-canceling headphones - Close extra tabs or silence your phone Why: Creates a consistent cue for your brain to switch gears. ✅ Step 2️⃣: Clear the Clutter (2 minutes) Quick mental declutter to make space for clarity: - Write down 3 things that are distracting you - Acknowledge them, then put them aside (physically or mentally) - Optional: jot them in a “Not Now” list or use your Maybe Later Parking Lot Why: Naming distractions reduces their power. ✅ Step 3️⃣: Reconnect with Intention (2 minutes) - What’s the one thing I want to move forward right now? - Why does this matter today? - What will success look like at the end of this session? Why: Brings clarity and purpose into the session. ✅ Step 4️⃣: Engage the Brain (2–3 minutes) Pick one of the following to sharpen your attention: - Micro-mindfulness: 10 deep breaths, counting each one - Visual Focus Primer: Stare at a single point for 30 seconds - Mental Rehearsal: Close your eyes and visualize the first 3 steps of your task Why: Calms nervous energy and activates cognitive focus. ✅ Step 5️⃣: Set Your Boundaries (1 minute) Decide how long you’ll work and how you’ll protect that time: - Set a timer - Let others know you’re unavailable - Mute notifications or use a focus app Why: Protects your mental space once you’re in flow. ✅ 💡 Optional Enhancements (Pick What Helps) ↳ Ambient music or background noise (if that helps you focus) ↳ Stand and stretch for 30 seconds before sitting back down ↳ Check your energy level—if you’re depleted, consider a quick nervous system reset instead 📌 Bookmark this post for later, or give it a ❤️ or a 💡. PS: I am Sven Elstermann, and this 👆🏼 is one of many systems in Introvert OS. Check out my profile to learn more, and follow me for daily introvert tips.

Ever sat down to work, but somehow ended up scrolling? I left the chaos of distractions behind. My secret weapon is focus. I'm not interested in: ❌ Multitasking ❌ Endless notifications ❌ Burnout ❌ Losing my edge Instead: 🟢 I want to concentrate deeply 🟢 I want to work efficiently 🟢 I want to enjoy my tasks 🟢 I want to feel accomplished It pays to sharpen your focus. What do you actually need to do your best work? 🧠 Here are 7 Ways to Improve Your Concentration: 1️⃣ Eliminate Digital Distractions ↳ Silence tech noise to reclaim your focus. ✅ Use “Do Not Disturb” mode while working. 2️⃣ Practice the Pomodoro Technique ↳ Short bursts of work keep your mind sharp. ✅ Use timers to manage your workflow. 3️⃣ Prioritize One Task at a Time ↳ Multitasking splits your attention. ✅ Tackle tasks sequentially, not simultaneously. 4️⃣ Fuel Your Brain Properly ↳ Your brain needs the right fuel. ✅ Snack on nuts, fruits, and stay hydrated. 5️⃣ Get Enough Sleep ↳ Rested minds perform better. ✅ Cut screen time 1 hour before bed. 6️⃣ Train Your Mind with Meditation ↳ Focus starts with mindfulness. ✅ Start with guided meditation apps. 7️⃣ Set Clear Daily Goals ↳ A focused day starts with clarity. ✅ Write your 3 most important tasks every morning. 📌 PS...Focus is a muscle—train it daily. ♻️ Share this with your network to help them sharpen their concentration too! 🚀 Join 74,000+ leaders reading my daily science-backed tips on leading high-performing teams using mindset, habits and systems. No vague recommendations. All backed by science and experience. ➡️ Follow me here Harry Karydes

Stop multitasking. Start using this strategy instead. I used to drown in meetings, follow-ups, and a to-do list that never quit. Sound familiar? I’ve been there. Overwhelmed, always playing catch-up, and not able to ever switch off. Not to mention anxiety through the roof. Something had to change. I know how it feels. You wake up every day with a mission: → grow that pipeline → book those meetings → close the deals And every single day, it feels like you’re starting from zero. The grind is real. I knew I needed a new game plan.  So I found it: Structured Day Segmentation. Here’s how it works: 1. Assess your day → Track your time for a week. → Get real about where your time goes and what drains your energy. 2. Break it down: → Organize your day into power blocks: - 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Attack high-priority tasks -11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Handle meetings and calls -1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Crush admin and routine work -3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Wrap- with follow-ups and prep for tomorrow → Take a 10-minute break every 90 minutes to recharge. 3. Make it happen: → Block out these periods in your calendar. → Let your team know your new game plan so they don’t interrupt your focus. 4. Fine-tune: → After 2 weeks, see what’s working and adjust. → Keep evolving. 5. Reflect: → Weekly, assess your productivity and energy. → Make changes as needed. Here’s the truth: You don’t need to be overwhelmed and stressed. You need to take control, prioritize what matters, and delegate what doesn’t. Structured Day Segmentation allows you to be more productive, doing less, and feeling great about it. Structuring my day this way has transformed my productivity and performance more than any other method or guru advice. I have a full pipeline, while still supporting clients and opening doors to new opportunities in a simple way. Ready to take control of your day? Give this a shot. It’s the key to becoming more efficient and less stressed. ➜ What’s the time of day you’re at your best? ___ → I’m Melina, Executive Coach and Business Strategist. → My first cohort for Sales Execs kicks off in September. → Interested? DM me "I'm In" for details.

😓My agency owner "deep work" hacks: As an agency owner I wear many hats so balancing deep and shallow work is a worthy challenge. Why? A 1-minute distraction destroys ~23 minutes of deep work. So dozens of ill-timed of micro-interruptions result in approx. ZERO deep work. Here are some hack that I use to combat ⚔️ interruptions and reclaim focus: ✅ Architect your week for focus (h/t Matt Redler 🎙️) Have days or multi-hour blocks only for deep work. Start with a no-meeting morning or day an first then let the focus blocks expand into your calendar like ivy on an English brick house. ✅ Nuke temptations I'll start to get into deep work and suddenly think "ooh, I should check Slack", "I should check LinkedIn" but compulsively doing that destroys productivity. 🧨One key to nuke them all: I press ⌨️Cmd-8 and all temptations shut down immediately ❌. LinkedIn... bye. Slack, Gmail, messaging apps, see you later, impossible to access until I undo it. (I set this up w/ Cold Turkey + Alfred) ✅ Block incoming distractions Have kids and are hyper-focused? Teach me your ways 🙇♂️ (🐈⬛🐈cats are enough challenge for me) 🛡Aside from (not having) kids, these have worked for me: • Turn off as many phone/computer notifications as possible • Use over-ear noise-blocking headphones (Sony WH-1000XM4) • Block spam calls (Hiya is working well) • Use Do Not Disturb (MacOS) or Focus Assist (Windows) ✅ 🖥 Big monitor (= more headspace) If you're an outbound agency owner, you're doing work that's much easier with a big 27"+ monitor. Studies have shown double-digit productivity improvements with larger monitors and it's one of the first things I buy my employees when they join. ✅ Hire and delegate: If your goal as an agency owner is to get your effective hourly rate really high 💰, you shouldn't be spending time on tasks that others can do with some training. E.g. do NOT set up your email infra yourself. Outsource or insource it (though make sure you understand it enough at a high level). UpWork, OnlineJobs.PH, and referrals (for specialized work) have been great for finding talent. ✅ Misc general tricks: • Plan your day the night ahead of time • Track client work in a system (ClickUp rocks!) • Sleep, rest, exercise, eat well, etc. • Focus music on repeat w/ overear headphones (ask for my Spotify list in comments) ✅🧠 [Final hack] Learn from others: Doing something pointless with a lot of focus is still pointless. Learning from others who have been there helps you focus on the right things more rapidly. If you're a Claygency owner, their Slack is a good place meeting others. Jesse Ouellette also has an excellent (and _very_ active) WhatsApp group. Personally I like to build micro Slack "mafias" around me so we can all learn from each other. (content is also a great way to learn e.g. 🦾Eric Nowoslawski, Jordan Crawford, Scott Martinis, Xavier C., Corey Quinn 🎯...) --- What productivity "hacks" work well for you?

Here's my secret on how I make 10x better use of my time as a founder 👇 (Day 2 of 30) As a founder, a never-ending to-do list is common, and can become a persistent mental burden. Over time, I've designed ways to increase time spent on deep work, improve mental focus, and operate at a 10x better level than when I first started out as a founder 8 years ago. Here are 11 tools that help me stay focused: 🗒️ 1. Todoist (for prioritization) Everything I need to remember and do goes into my Todoist via phone and web. Once a week, I clean my inbox and sort action items by due date. At the start of each day, I take 5 mins to prioritize my 2-3 action items that must be done that day, and everything else is a bonus. 📅 2. Cron + Calendly (for time-blocking) I time-block aggressively to plan my week ahead. Everything that's a priority is reflected on my Cron calendar — eg: deep work sessions, family time, hobbies, exercise blocks, and social events. Calendly helps me limit external meetings to outside deep-work hours. 📲 3. Opal (for reduced phone time) The cognitive cost of distractions from my phone was fatiguing me through the day. For me, this was bullet chess or a quick social media scroll in-between tasks. I now use Opal to block chess + social media, and limit work apps to 3x 5-min blocks if needed. This reduced my phone time from 3-4 hours (average for most people) to ~1-1.5 hours per day. ⏳ 4. Rize (for measuring deep work) Rize helps me track where I'm spending my time when working. It's mostly hands-off, and it gives me a weekly email summary to see how much deep work I'm getting done, and where my time is being spent (eg: meetings vs. focus time). 🕹️ 5. Keyboard Shortcuts (for efficiency) As a previous gamer, keyboard shortcuts became second-nature to me. They help me do more with less effort. I recommend learning keyboard shortcuts for the top 2-3 tools you use. You'll be surprised by how much faster you can navigate your digital environment. ⌨ 6. TextExpander (for re-usable snippets) This is my secret to reusable text. Anything that I may need to type more than once usually goes in here — name, email, address, pitch, template emails, calendar links, and more. It literally saved me 2 hours last week in writing time. Other bonus tools that help me: 👉 Raycast for its 50x clipboard (esp helpful for makers) 👉 Krisp for noise-cancellation in meetings 👉 Superhuman for email 👉 Arc for web browsing 👉 Hevy to track workouts (add me!) I'll be the first to admit that while I don't always execute at 100% potential every single day, I'm always trying to get better at it and these productivity guardrails help me perform at my best more consistently. ---- This is Day 2/30 of my writing spree to share how I'm scaling DesignBake to $1M/yr in revenue this year. Tune in for another deep dive on operating as a founder tomorrow :)

You wake up, stretch, grab your coffee, and just as you're about to dive into work... your doctor calls. “Listen, I’ve got news,” they say. “You can only work 2 hours a day. Anything more, and—BOOM—your heart taps out.” (Dramatic, I know. But stay with me.) Suddenly, everything changes: ↳No more endless meetings ↳No more mindless scrolling ↳ No more “quick” email checks that last an hour You’d laser-focus on the work that actually moves the needle and ignore the rest. Turns out, you don’t need more time. You need better focus. So instead of wishing for more hours, try these five uncommon ways to sharpen your focus: 𝟓. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 “𝟑-𝟑-𝟑 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞” Pick 3 key priorities for the day. Work in deep focus blocks. Limit yourself to 3 major decisions (so your brain doesn’t melt). 𝟒. 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 “𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐀𝐢𝐫” 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 10-15 minutes. No phone, no thinking, just exist. It resets your brain like a factory reboot; so you come back sharper than ever. 𝟑. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 “𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐱” Every time you check your phone mindlessly; Do 10 push-ups or Pay $1 to a “focus jar.” It trains your brain that distractions have real costs. 𝟐. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧 “𝐍𝐨-𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞” No debating when to start. No waiting for motivation. Just fixed, non-negotiable deep work slots. 𝟏. 𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭 𝐚 “𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭” Rushing = mistakes + stress. Slow down. Work intentionally, not frantically. When you control your pace, you control your focus. Because the goal isn’t just to be productive; It’s to enjoy a thriving career without sacrificing your mental wellbeing ——————— ✍️If you only had 2 hours today, what work would YOU prioritize? ♻️Repost this to your network & Connect with me for more posts like this.

10 years ago, I thought I was a productivity expert. I read so many books, and I thought I got it all. But every time I would sit down to complete a task this is what it would look like: ⏱️ 9:00 am: Clear desk, sit down with a sense of purpose. ⏱️ 9:12 am: Pick up phone to check — cleared all notifications? ⏱️ 9:15 am: Ding! A message from a friend, take a quick glance. ⏱️ 9:25 am: Return to task, but tough to regain focus after the interruption. ⏱️ 9:37 am: "I wonder what I should make for lunch." Mental detour. ⏱️ 9:58 am: Frustration sets in— “I suck at this.” Finally, I give up. Looking back, I realize now that my approach was flawed. I was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle: understanding the internal barriers that were sabotaging my focus. Emotions like anxiety and frustration, and the ever-present fear of failure—all contributed to my struggle. But through years of trial and error, I've uncovered the keys to unlocking laser-like focus. There are four specific changes that I made to my work to revolutionize my approach to productivity. I call it the FOCUS FORMULA: 1️⃣ Emotions: I began managing my feelings to enhance concentration and productivity. For instance, when overwhelmed with anxiety, I practiced deep breathing or wrote down my jumbled thoughts to gain clarity and empty my mind. 2️⃣ Environment: I transformed my workspace by decluttering and organizing it to minimize distractions. This included designating a specific work area and investing in noise-canceling headphones. 3️⃣ Peak Hours: I aligned tasks with my peak cognitive hours to maximize focus and efficiency. Instead of tackling complex tasks when mentally drained, I scheduled them during times of peak alertness. 4️⃣ Pre-Task Prep: I established a pre-task ritual to mentally and physically prepare for focused work. This involved meditation, setting goals, and setting timers to create urgency. If you want to apply the 'focus formula' for yourself, dive in here: https://lnkd.in/gCyyAkr4 #flow #effortlesswork #productivity

If you really knew me, you'd know... That I am heavily affected by my environment and NEED to live and work in beautiful spaces. It’s not because I’m a princess; it's science-backed facts. Steven Kotler's research on flow highlights the importance of a well-curated environment for productivity, especially for those managing ADHD traits like me. So what do I do to make myself more productive? 1. Creating a designated work spot helps me focus. When working from my van, I pull out a table specifically for work hours. 2. Turning my phone to Do Not Disturb is another crucial step to avoid the temptation of notifications. Sometimes putting the phone in another room isn’t enough if I can still hear it ding, so Do Not Disturb works better for me. 3. Different sensory triggers signal to my body and mind that it’s time to work. I use specific scents in my diffuser to feel energized or focused. Scent is the most powerful memory trigger, helping to set the right mood for work. 4. Playlists tailored to the energy I need for tasks also help set the mood. 5. Natural light is another big factor. Spending so many hours in front of a ring light for client calls makes me appreciate working under natural light, which helps regulate my brain for deeper, focused work. Studies have shown that natural light improves mood, energy levels, and overall productivity, which is especially beneficial for those with ADHD. But what about the actual work itself? Grouping similar energy tasks together, as described in my work profiling and ideal week planning system (message me if you want to hear me talk about this in my podcast), helps maintain focus and efficiency. This approach aligns with Kotler's insights on achieving a flow state, where time either expands or contracts to suit your needs. Why am I sharing this? Because these tools can help you and your team prepare to work. Allowing your team to set up their workspace in a way that suits them can significantly boost productivity. Which of these tips could you implement in your office today? #ifyoureallyknewme #ADHD #timebatching

I have worked with 1000+ athletes and executives performing at their peak. Here are 10 focus killers that made them less productive. (And their solution) 1-Poor Sleep ↪ Solution: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Establish a regular bedtime routine to improve sleep quality. Follow a good morning routine to enhance productivity during the day. 2-Dehydration ↪ Solution: Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Keep a water bottle with you as a reminder to stay hydrated. 3-Lack of Exercise ↪ Solution: Include physical activity in your daily routine. Even short walks or stretches can help. 4-Lack of Goals ↪ Solution: Set clear, achievable goals. Break tasks into smaller steps and create a pre-performance checklist. 5-Stress and Anxiety ↪ Solution: Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. Take regular breaks to relax. 6-Unhealthy Diet ↪ Solution: Eat balanced meals with fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Avoid excessive sugar and junk food. 7-Too Many Distractions ↪ Solution: Create a quiet, organized workspace. Turn off unnecessary notifications on your devices. Turn on DND (do not disturb) 8-Multitasking ↪ Solution: Focus on one task at a time. Prioritize your tasks and complete them one by one. 9-Overwhelm ↪ Solution: Break large tasks into smaller, manageable parts. Focus on completing one part at a time. 10-Cluttered Workspace ↪ Solution: Keep your workspace clean and organized. Clear away unnecessary items. The key is to avoid these and improve your routine for optimal focus. P.S. I am trying to share topics that are more high-performance related. Your feedback is much appreciated ✅

We're all too busy at work…but we don't need to be. 7 ways to work smarter, not harder: 1/ Frontload your day: Put your most important tasks at the beginning of your day. You'll have more energy to tackle them early on before distractions pop up. Write down your top 3 tasks each day and do them. No excuses. 2/ Set shorter deadlines: Parkinson's Law says that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. If you're about to start a month-long project, ask yourself: "What does the 2-week version look like?" Shorter deadlines force you to focus on what matters. 3/ Track your time: Spend a week tracking your time. Record everything. At the end of 1 week, you'll likely find that you spend more time than you realize on specific activities. Adjust accordingly. 4/ Batch tasks together: Block out some time and blast through repetitive tasks such as: • Responding to emails • Checking slack • Pulling metrics You'll get into a groove and get through them faster. 5/ Do what gives you energy: At the end of your week, look back at the projects you worked on. Identify what tasks gave you energy and which tasks sucked. Figure out a way to delegate tasks that don't give you energy. Speaking of delegating... 6/ Delegate more: Delegating gives you more time to focus on the most important tasks. Try out the Eisenhower Matrix for decision-making: High urgency + High importance = DO NOW Low urgency + High importance = SCHEDULE High urgency + Low importance = DELEGATE Low urgency + Low importance = DELETE 7/ Take more breaks: This is counter-intuitive but works. If you go too long without a break, you will eventually get tired and make mistakes. Try the Pomodoro Technique: Focused work for 25 min. Then take a 5 min break. Repeat. --- These tips have worked for me. I hope they work for you too! Let me know if there are any good tips that I've missed 👇