5 Brain Hacks to Improve Focus & Concentration Instantly

A century ago, Swami Vivekananda said that the difference between an ordinary and an extraordinary person is their ability to concentrate.

Even today, that statement holds true.

If you want to succeed in life, one skill you must develop is the ability to concentrate on a task for an extended period of time.

Your brain needs time to learn, process information, and solve problems—and without this skill, success is impossible in any field.

Whether you want to be an artist, engineer, or doctor, concentration is a must.

Unfortunately, this is also the one skill most young people struggle with today.

So, what brain hacks can you start using today to improve your concentration?

That’s exactly what we’ll explore in this blog.

What is Concentration?

Concentration is like an island of brain activity inside an ocean of calmness.

In neuroscience terms, concentration is an island of sympathetic activity (focused attention) within a background of parasympathetic activity (calm and relaxed state).

This means that your brain is giving a lot of importance to one thing while reducing focus on everything else.

So, how do you create this bubble of concentration?

You do this by creating five bubbles.

Trick 1: Create a Bubble of Time

You need to set aside a window of time for deep concentration.

This idea is the foundation of the Pomodoro Technique:

• Focus for 20-25 minutes

• Take a short 5-minute break

• Repeat

But beyond this, it’s also important to ask:
At what time of the day are you most focused?

Some people can concentrate better in the morning, while others focus best at night.

Find out when your circadian rhythm supports maximum focus and schedule your deep work during that time.

Trick 2: Create a Bubble of Space

Your physical space affects your concentration.

To maximize focus:

• Declutter your desk – A messy environment creates mental clutter.

• Use noise-canceling headphones – Block out distractions.

• Control your visual field – Remove distracting objects from your workspace.

A clean, organized space helps create a soothing parasympathetic background, making it easier for your brain to focus on your task.

Trick 3: Create a Bubble of Energy

Your diet and hydration play a big role in focus.

Things that hurt concentration:

- Eating a heavy meal full of carbohydrates and sugar before working.

- Being dehydrated, which increases stress and brain fog.

What helps?

• Eat light, protein-rich meals 30–60 minutes before focusing.

• Stay hydrated—keep a bottle of water nearby.

• Try fasting – Studies show that a fasted state can sometimes enhance focus.

Comparison of a sluggish person after a heavy meal and an alert, focused person after a light, protein-rich meal

Trick 4: Create a Bubble of Task

Avoid multitasking.

When you multitask, your brain constantly switches between different tasks—wasting mental energy.

Many people believe they are being productive by multitasking, but in reality, they are:

• Doing multiple things superficially

• Spending more time switching than actually working

Instead, focus on one task at a time, complete it fully, and then move to the next.

A person juggling too many tasks vs. someone focusing on one task effectively.

Trick 5: Create a Bubble of Thought

The more thoughts you have in your mind, the harder it is to concentrate.

The only way to reduce mental clutter is through meditation and deep breathing.

Before sitting down to focus:

• Close your eyes.

• Take 3 to 5 minutes of deep breathing.

This simple practice helps clear your mind so you can direct your focus fully to the task ahead.

A person preparing for focused work.

Bonus: The Spiritual Approach to Concentration

While researching for this video, I came across some yogic and spiritual practices that also help in concentration.

One key idea? Let go of your ego.

The more you think about yourself, your problems, and your distractions, the harder it becomes to focus.

But when you let go and immerse yourself in the task at hand, you enter a flow state—a state of effortless concentration.

Some might call this meditation, but in reality, it's just deep, uninterrupted focus.

A monk deeply focused on a task, symbolising the "flow state."

Final Thoughts

Concentration is not just a skill—it’s a muscle. The more you train it, the stronger it gets.

To improve your focus, start using these five bubbles of concentration today:

• Bubble of Time – Set dedicated focus windows.

• Bubble of Space – Declutter your environment.

• Bubble of Energy – Optimize diet and hydration.

• Bubble of Task – Stop multitasking.

• Bubble of Thought – Meditate to clear mental distractions.

I hope these techniques help you improve your concentration and achieve success in whatever you do.

All the best, and I’ll see you in the next blog!

PS: Concentration is a skill that can be trained and improved with neuroscience-backed techniques. Join the NeuroMastery Bootcamp waitlist, where we explore practical strategies to enhance focus, eliminate distractions, and boost productivity.