INTRODUCTION
Your workspace is killing your focus. Papers scattered across your desk, notifications lighting up your screen, and 2 million tabs open at once. it’s a recipe for a distraction disaster. But you can fix this. That’s why we have gone to the effort of researching the entire market to find the most effective workspace optimisations for improving your focus. After testing dozens of hacks we have identified the most effective ones that work for men who want real results.
1. DECLUTTERING
A cluttered workspace (and mind) is one of the biggest killers of focus. Visual and mental clutter competes for your brain’s attention, increasing cognitive load and making it harder to concentrate. Decluttering isn’t about having a minimalist desk, it’s about creating a workspace where your brain doesn’t have to fight distractions.
Your brain processes everything in your field of vision, whether you’re aware of it or not. A messy workspace and computer constantly signals unfinished tasks. By removing everything unnecessary, you free up mental space for deeper focus.
To put this into action: pick one area, like your desk, computer desktop, or email inbox; and remove anything unnecessary. Commit to maintaining a clutter-free space moving forward.
2. REMOVING DISTRACTIONS
Removing distraction helps you eliminate anything that pulls your attention away from your work, allowing you to stay focused and productive. It targets both physical and digital distractions to create a space optimised for deep work.
This will keep you locked in, help you maintain focus, finish tasks faster, and produce higher-quality work. By reducing mental clutter and minimising context-switching, you stay in the zone longer and keep your productivity on track.
To apply this, spend just 10 minutes identifying anything that has the potential to pull your attention away and take immediate action to remove, block, or manage it.
3. OPTIMAL LIGHTING SETUP
Poor lighting ruins your focus and strains your eyes. On the other hand, natural light, regulates your body clock and keeps you alert. Position your desk perpendicular to windows to reduce glare while still getting sunlight.
Artificial lighting also requires a strategic approach. A color temperature matching natural daylight will keep you focused. Anything warmer makes you sleepy, while cooler light can make you anxious.
4. EARBUDS FOR COMPLETE SILENCE
We have done a complete post on all the audio hacks and noise types for focus. But sometimes complete silence can be the best for cutting out distractions. Earplugs are one of the simplest and most effective tools for eliminating distractions and creating a deep work environment. Unlike noise-canceling headphones, which still allow subtle background noise, earplugs physically block external sounds.
Blocking out noise completely forces your brain into deep focus mode, reducing mental fatigue caused by constant interruptions. Many high performers, including Alex Hormozi use earplugs to create an undisturbed mental space that allows them to work at peak efficiency.
You can pick these up pretty cheap online. Just make sure you choose high-quality foam or silicone earplugs and use them for deep work sessions where absolute silence is necessary.
5. TEMPERATURE OPTIMISATION
Your brain works best between 70-77°F (21-25°C). Too hot or cold, and your focus takes a hit. Research shows that productivity drops 4% per degree when temperatures rise above 77°F. Below 70°F, your body wastes energy trying to stay warm instead of focusing on work.
So during the summer, a small desk fan is a smart investment. In winter, a small space heater under your desk works well.
In summer, close blinds during peak sun hours and use a cooling towel around your neck. In winter, keep a light blanket nearby and wear fingerless gloves to keep your hands warm while typing. Small changes like these help maintain your ideal temperature zone without disrupting your workflow.
6. AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS
Bad air makes your brain slow. A few simple changes to your workspace ventilation will boost your focus and energy levels. The solution is straightforward. Get fresh air moving in.
Open your windows for 10 minutes every two hours. This simple habit floods your space with oxygen-rich air that your brain needs to work at full power.
For serious air quality control, get yourself an air purifier. These machines trap dust, allergens, and other particles that mess with your concentration. Skip the fancy features though — a basic model with a quality HEPA filter does the job perfectly.
7. ERGONOMIC POSITIONING
Ergonomic positioning is the practice of setting up your workspace to support your body’s natural alignment, reducing strain and maximising comfort. This setup ensures that your chair, desk, and monitor are positioned in a way that allows you to work efficiently without putting unnecessary stress on your muscles and joints. This makes it easier to stay focused for extended periods.
Poor posture forces your body to work harder to maintain balance, leading to stiffness, back pain, and unnecessary movement — all of which pull attention away from your work. You want to leave your brain to be completely free to concentrate instead of managing discomfort.
There are many expensive ergonomic office products. But to leverage this straight away, adjust your chair so your spine stays upright and your arms rest at a 90-degree angle. Position your monitor at eye level and an arm’s length away. Finally, keep your keyboard positioned so your wrists remain straight.
CONCLUSION
These workspace changes each targets a specific focus killer in your environment, giving you back control of your attention.
Based on our research, Mentools recommends removing distractions and as the best environment tools to hack your focus. These are the most simple and effective tools to get the most leverage from your time.
TAKE ACTION NOW
Take the first step towards becoming a man who takes action! Choose one of the following options: Join a 7-day challenge, download our app, or get a 7-day action plan.
