This is an era of multiple distractions from digital devices (texts, tweets, emails, etc.) and alarming news coming at you 24/7. No wonder people say they're having trouble focusing or are finding senior moments happen increasingly often.

One survey in the U.K. reports almost half of people say that their attention span is shorter than it used to be, and almost as many admit that "deep thinking" is a thing of the past.

If that seems vaguely familiar, here are five ways to improve your ability to get and stay sharper:

1. Drink caffeinated coffee; 2-4 cups a day can improve selective and sustained attention to detail.

2. Improve your sleep quality. That will benefit your memory, problem-solving, creativity, emotional processing, and judgment, according to the Sleep Foundation. To help you sleep deeper and longer, turn off all digital and blue light sources in the bedroom. Use only red wavelength lights at night. 

3. Enjoy regular moderate to vigorous physical exercise. Studies show it turns on genes that increase brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor (BDNF), which helps you focus and stimulates memory formation.

4. Increase your intake of brain-boosting nutrients and healthy fats found in dark green leafy vegetables, salmon, sea trout, and berries. One study found that women who eat two or more servings of strawberries and blueberries weekly delayed memory decline by up to two and a half years.

5. Consider taking a choline supplement. Around 90% of people are deficient of this nutrient.