The first thing to help with kavannah is to make absolutely sure that NO LITTLE KIDS come in and out of the shul. Too many mothers who felt “deprived” of davening all during the years when their babies were being born, seem to forget that they have no chiyuv to daven in Shul specifically BECAUSE of those children. I cannot tell you how hard it is for me to concentrate when thoughtless parents (read: moms, in this particular instance) allow their kids to come in and out of the ezras nashim, talking, whining, doing what normal little kids do,w ehn they are bored. Event hough our shul has provided FREE babysitting for those children, the moms do not ensure that the kids are staying with the sitters. Ok, enough of my ranting. Now for practical suggestions:
I always focus on thoughts of my family, my parents O”H, my siblings, and most especially, my children and grandchildren. THAT helps me focus on ym davening, because when I daven for my family, I really connect with what I am saying. It becomes even more choshuv to me. It’s not that I am davening for this request or that one. It is that simply reflecting on the many brachos in my life given to me by Ha-Shem, which I am reminded of when I think of my family, helps me to concentrate on the tefila and feel even more humbled and grateful.