Reading time: 5 minutes
1. Work environment
To be able to concentrate properly, you need to create the right working environment. Calm, light, fresh air, cleanliness and a comfortable desk and chairs are important. If you work in a team, tell your colleagues not to disturb you. If it's not in your power to ensure a quiet environment, don't be afraid to use earplugs or put on headphones with your favourite music. Mute your phone notifications and disconnect from social networks. In short, avoid anything that might distract you from your work. Take regular breaks when you're working or studying. A strategic break can be a great stimulant for your brain. When you feel yourself getting mentally tired, try stepping away from your desk for a few minutes. You could try stretching, taking a walk or spending a few minutes outside enjoying nature.
2. Sleep hygiene
Lack of sleep has a negative impact on the human brain and health. According to studies, lack of sleep is associated with loss of concentration, prolonged reaction time and an inability to maintain attention.(1, 2, 3) For example, 48 hours without sleep impairs cognitive abilities to the same level as a blood alcohol concentration of 1 per thousand.(4) Lack of sleep can also contribute to a range of health problems, such as heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and obesity. So give yourself 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day in an undisturbed environment and focus on basic sleep hygiene.
3. A healthy diet
A healthy, balanced diet is good for our physical and mental health. An inadequate diet, on the other hand, can increase feelings of tiredness and impair our ability to concentrate. As well as getting enough energy and all the important nutrients, it's a good idea to focus on certain specific foods. Foods that are good for concentration include vegetables, berries (especially blueberries), cocoa and dark chocolate with a cocoa content of over 70%, nuts and seeds, oily fish (such as salmon), wholegrain cereals and green tea. These foods are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that have a positive effect on our mental performance.
4. Nootropics
For better concentration, we can also use proven brain stimulants. These are called nootropics. Nootropics are substances used to improve mental performance, concentration, alertness and learning capacity. Nootropics include caffeine, guarana, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, maca, L-theanine and choline.
- Caffeine is a natural stimulant that improves cognitive ability and concentration.
- Guarana is a natural source of caffeine that boosts mental performance and alertness.
- Ginkgo biloba supports the brain's cognitive functions and memory.
- Ginseng improves mental performance, promotes both concentration and memory, and helps to optimise brain function. It also acts as a powerful antioxidant and supports the body's natural defences.
- Maca contains a variety of health-promoting compounds that support mental and physical health. It also contributes to greater endurance and improved performance.
- L-theanine is an amino acid found in green tea that can increase the level of alpha waves in the human brain. The result is increased alertness and cognitive capacity (5, 6, 7, 8).
- La choline a un effet positif sur la mémoire et le traitement des informations. Il est essentiel pour toutes les fonctions neuronales, y compris la régulation de la mémoire, l'humeur et l'intelligence. La choline se trouve dans des aliments tels que le jaune d'œuf, les tripes, les légumineuses et la levure.
5. Time management
Time management can help you focus on individual tasks and goals. Make a list of your tasks and rank them in order of importance. Set reasonable goals for each day and do things in order. Not everything on your list is urgent, so focus on the most important tasks first. Beware of so-called 'multitasking', which often leads to jumping from one task to another without having completed the first. This is much more effective than working on all fronts in an attempt to complete a single task. Only then can you move on to the next task. 
6. Match
Sometimes less is more. If you want to increase your productivity, break large projects down into manageable chunks. Think of it this way: you'd never eat a three-course meal in one bite, would you? Just as you eat a meal in bite-sized chunks, try breaking your tasks down into manageable chunks so you can focus on one area.
7. Cognitive training
Exercise your brain regularly and for a long time. Cognitive training improves concentration, short-term memory, work capacity and the ability to solve tasks quickly. You can train your brain in many different ways: by doing crosswords and sudokus, reading books, playing memory and strategy games, doing puzzles or meditating, for example.
References: Alhola, P., Polo-Kantola, P. (2007). Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 3(5), 553-567.Ferrie, J. E., Shipley, M. J., Akbaraly, T. N., Marmot, M. G., Kivimäki, M., Singh-Manoux, A. (2011). Change in sleep duration and cognitive function: findings from the Whitehall II Study. Sleep, 34(5), 565-573.Diekelmann S. (2014). Sleep for cognitive enhancement. Frontiers in systems neuroscience, 8, 46.hhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/sharpen-thinking-skills-with-a-better-nights-sleepBaba, Y., Inagaki, S., Nakagawa, S., Kaneko, T., Kobayashi, M., Takihara, T. (2021). Effects of l-Theanine on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study. Journal of medicinal food, 24(4), 333-341.Evans, M., McDonald, A. C., Xiong, L., Crowley, D. C., Guthrie, N. (2021). A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study to Investigate the Efficacy of a Single Dose of AlphaWave® L-Theanine on Stress in a Healthy Adult Population. Neurology and Therapy, 10(2), 1061-1078.Nobre, A. C., Rao, A., Owen, G. N. (2008). L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 17, Supp 1, 167-168.Gomez-Ramirez, M., Kelly, S. P., Montesi, J. L, Foxe, J. J. (2009). The effects of L-theanine on alpha-band oscillatory brain activity during a visuo-spatial attention task. Brain Topographym, 22(1), 44-51.Blusztajn, J. K., Slack, B. E., Mellott, T. J. (2017). Neuroprotective Actions of Dietary Choline. Nutrients, 9(8), 815.