Any tips on how to focus at work? Just got my first job a few months ago and I'm having huge problems at focusing for 8h a day. Sometimes I'm just staring at the screen for 30 minutes being lost in my mind. I'm either really in the zone or not being able to focus at all. Will I get used to focusing the longer I work there or am I just retarded?

Take a break sometimes, you cant concentrate for 8 hours straight

1. Noise canceling headphones

2. Non-vocal music/white noise generator (lots and lots of those on youtube)

Currently my favorites are movie soundtracks (most are Hans Zimmer's)

Getting in the zone takes around 20-30 minutes and is pretty much a hard limit in my experience. The best you can do is to be well-rested, feel good generally and remove all distractions. Even then you can't force it.

Your time in the zone is also severely limited. Some people talk about two hours: https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/...

And if you managed to get that much, you're probably mentally exhausted for the day and might as well go home.

Yeah, our brains suck at concentrating.

In addition to the other comments, start slow. Find something that you can break down to the smallest level and start there. Preferably something that excites you, or something that is a small bug that you can fix quickly. This is your ramp up period. It'll help put you in the mindset. Alternatively, find a blog or article on programming that will light a fire to get you in the groove. The focus will come when you are actively engaged in what you are doing.

@PaperTrail I agree on using movie soundtracks!

Drink tea also. Works every time! Or coffee, if tea's not your thingg

I would recommend taking a break. Getting up and walking away from your desk, walk outside and breath some fresh air.

I find that it's good the soul,
and good to escape the office R soul.