We all experience fluctuations in our focus during work – some days our focus is sharp, other days it slips away. There’s no shame in stepping back and taking things slower, which is why we have our mental health policy in place.

The thing is: typical symptoms of modern work – like headaches, back pain or dips in motivation – can often be eased if you keep a few things in mind. That’s why our Wellness Team asked all employees at Life Size to share their methods to stay focused and energised during the working day. 

Curious to learn their secrets? Read on! 

Regular movement

Nowadays, many employees  tend to sit in front of their screens for the whole day. That’s why movement is key. Even little tweaks in our daily work life can help here. 

Martha swears by daily walks. 

“Taking walks breaks up my day and gives my mind a rest before diving into another period of focused work, or provides a good time to mull over a particular problem or idea.”

Maybe your next walk leads you to a co-working space or café – perfect if you need a change of scenery. Sometimes, you need to see and do something different to regain focus, as Paige knows: 

“I like to take a 5-10 minute break at some point to stretch and another break to read a chapter of a book or do something around the house – anything that means I can switch off from work for a few minutes.”

Regular breaks

You can’t maintain the same level of concentration on your work all day if you don’t step away from it regularly. Numerous studies (Albulescu et al., 2022; Fischetti et al., 2024; Radwan et al., 2025, etc.) show that mini-breaks increase task performance and reduce physical strain and stress.

A popular method that uses this principle is the Pomodoro technique, a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It uses a timer to break work into intervals separated by short breaks, e.g. 25 minutes of work and 5 minutes of break, but the times can be adapted based on your needs. This is what Sara has to say about how it has worked for her:  

“I personally find 30 minutes of work and 10 minutes of rest ideal and I really notice a difference in my concentration level. Work seems a lot more doable with this method.”

Focus time

If you’re working in a team, you probably rely on tools like Slack or Asana to stay organised. Having them open all the time can be distracting – no matter how great your willpower is.  

That’s why sticking to your focus time is so important, as Sam explains:

“I’ve become much better at protecting my focus time by muting notifications and closing my email tab when working on a longer task. It clears away the little distractions that can wait, but otherwise steal your attention. The more I’ve done this, the more okay I’ve felt about leaving notifications until later.”

You can block fixed focus times throughout the week or update the people you’re working with and jump right into one. Both can be helpful in a team. And here’s an extra tip: schedule time for reading messages, so they don’t sneak into your focus hours.

Stay hydrated and nourished 

This is self-explanatory, but crucial: stay hydrated and nourished. You can keep a bottle of water on your working desk alongside some of your favourite snacks.

Nourishment isn’t just about the body, it’s about the soul too. Jan, for example, likes to break up his work with a fresh cup of coffee and a chat with his wife. Especially in a remote setting, personal connections can make you feel more energised. 

Me time 

Perhaps the most important question to ask yourself is this: What do you need to feel good and wind down? This is relevant in between tasks, but also before and after work. For example, Saskia likes to listen to her favourite songs at full volume, dance a little or go for a quick walk with music in her ears. 

Remember: motivation and concentration aren’t linear. Many people find they’re most focused in the morning, which makes it a great time to tackle difficult tasks. And over the long run, energy levels fluctuate too. For example, being mindful of your cycle can help you adjust expectations and avoid the pressure to perform at the same level every single day.

What about you? We’re curious about your tips and tricks to stay focused during work. Drop us an email or reach out to us on LinkedIn.