Torah Tips: 10 Practical Ways to Improve Focus During Prayer

Do you know that feeling when you're in the middle of praying and suddenly find yourself thinking about completely unrelated things? You start remembering an email you need to send that keeps slipping your mind, an urgent work task you must complete today, or that important phone call you should have made a month ago — along with a thousand other distractions.

In the classic Jewish work Duties of the Heart, it is written:
"When one prays with his tongue while his heart is occupied with matters other than prayer, his prayer becomes a body without spirit, a shell without substance, because his body is present but his heart is not with him during his prayer. About such a person the Torah says: 'Because this people approaches Me with their mouth and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me' (Isaiah 49)."

(Gate of Self-Examination, Chapter 3)

In other words, prayer without kavanah (intention) is like a body without a soul.

So what can be done? How can we get rid of unwanted thoughts during prayer? Here are 10 tips to help you avoid distractions and improve your focus and spiritual connection in Jewish prayer.

1. Pray Near Someone Who Prays with Focus

The people around you make a difference. In a synagogue where others pray with kavanah, it becomes easier for everyone to connect emotionally and spiritually. Praying beside someone who is deeply immersed in their prayer can positively influence your own concentration.

2. Learn Torah Before Praying

The more Torah a person studies, the more they feel connected to Hashem — and that connection spills over into prayer. Especially if you study just before davening, your mind will already be immersed in spiritual matters, helping you keep out distractions. 

3. Mentally Prepare Before You Begin

Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe zt”l recommended dedicating two minutes before prayer to mental preparation.  Just two minutes is enough to make a real difference.

During that time, reflect on Hashem’s greatness and kindness, your dependence on Him, and the privilege of being able to speak directly to the Creator. That brief pause can make a meaningful difference.

4. Slow Down and Speak Clearly

When we speak to people, we try to be clear. So why rush our words when speaking to Hashem? Prayer deserves the same clarity and respect — if not more. Praying too fast makes it nearly impossible to focus or feel what you’re saying. Try to slow down and be deliberate with your words.

5. Choose a Calm Time to Pray

When you're in a rush — praying late, or needing to leave quickly — your mind races, and your prayer reflects that. Praying earlier or at a quieter time can help you stay calm and present.

6. Pause Before Each Blessing’s Conclusion

Train yourself to pause for a moment before saying the words: "Baruch Atah Hashem..." That pause gives your mind a chance to re-center. Rabbi Naftali Dov of Amsterdam, a disciple of Rabbi Israel Salanter and a leader in the Musar movement, taught that short pauses can clear distractions and help with concentration.

7. Lift Your Eyes

According to the Magen Avraham (a classic halachic authority), raising your eyes toward the heavens can strengthen your focus and help your mind engage more deeply in prayer.

8. Plead Like You Mean It

Say the words of prayer as though you're pleading — as if you're a person in dire need standing at the door of a generous benefactor. Even if it feels unnatural at first, your heart will eventually conform to your actions. This is based on the Torah principle that “the heart is drawn after the deeds.”

9. Learn the Meaning Behind the Words

When you understand what you're saying, it’s easier to concentrate and feel connected. There are many helpful resources that explain the Siddur (Jewish prayer book). One highly recommended one is the Nefesh Shimshon Siddur by Rabbi Shimshon Dovid Pincus zt”l.

10. Speak to Hashem Whenever You Can

Many people are surprised to find out that the basic Torah idea of prayer is simply speaking to Hashem, praising Him, thanking Him, and asking Him for anything and everything we need. The formal prayers are there to guide us but we can pray all day long, bringing Hashem into our lives. 

When we become accustomed to being in an ongoing and intimate relationship with Hashem, formal prayer becomes like a special conversation we have, a time we set aside to spend with our trusted Friend Who is always there for us, a time we won't rush through but will look forward to and treasure.