There was a time when humans fought with wild animals for survival; now we are fighting the urge to check phone notifications during a 10-minute Zoom call.
Scientists say that the average human attention span is sinking at an unprecedented pace. We consume information like we consume oxygen. This sinking attention span is caused by a lot of factors. The generation is blindly using invaluable time on something that is not yielding any result. Students and young employees are procrastinating like there is no tomorrow. The Gen Z work culture jibe is being patronised in an unhealthy context.
The textbook definition of attention span is the ability to work on one thing without being distracted. The difference between our ancestors and us is that they weren't easily distracted. Perhaps that is why they got better results in a limited time. Today, when we open our eyes in the morning, the first thing we reach out for is our phone. Within a few minutes, our mind is on an overload of information from across the world - the war, the prices, the murders, the jokes, the upcoming movies.
We definitely don’t stop at that. Surveys reveal that we receive an average of 60-146 notifications a day. Gen Z gets around 180. For every notification ring, our hands go to the phone screen. And then one app leads to another. What should be a quick message check-in in the middle of the day or before going to bed becomes a 3-hour Instagram scrolling session.
You figure out weird animal facts, cooking recipes and solutions to problems that don’t even exist in your life. An utter waste of time. If this sounds like you, you are in deep trouble. A sinking attention span is a growing problem, an unaware one as well. It would be safe to say it is one of the most valuable and scarce resources today.
Image Credits: AI-Generated
Reasons Why We Have Lower Attention Spans
Having a lower attention span is not an incurable problem. With a little bit of effort, it can be turned around. But for that, we need to identify the reason. Below are a few of them:
Short-form Content:
Reels, short videos and TikToks have made it very difficult to maintain patience. We are so habituated to getting all the information quickly, and in so many varied forms, that it becomes extremely annoying to wait or grasp something slowly.
Notification Spree:
Our elders used phones with a calls-only feature. That evolved to messaging, and then shopping and working and reading. Every app we use sends us a notification. These minor blinks take up a lot of our time without even realising it.
Multitasking:
We are no longer doing just one thing at a time. We are using phones to send messages or to catch up with the news while sitting on the toilet. We are watching a series while cooking. We are working on breaks while on vacation. We are using day offs for laundry and grocery runs while also throwing parties. There are hundreds of ideas and plans that need execution. Giving attention to one thing at a time is an absurd statement for this generation.
Overloading The Brain With Information:
Knowing and paying attention to what is happening around the world is a good thing. But there is no need for a corporate employee to see a wandering traveller’s everyday routine, or a sea diver to find the best way to do icing on a cake. The brain needs to know what is necessary, not everything that goes around the world.
App Designs:
Every app, whether shopping, gaming or messaging, tricks the brain to come back. The money comes to the owner when you visit, so it is right that they use your psychology to bring you back. Anything that stops you from scrolling is replaced with what your eyes find pleasing. You have streaks and progress bars that make you feel the fear of loss if the target is not achieved. To counter that, to give you the satisfaction and validation of being good enough, there are badges and rewards. And the push notifications remind you that you have to go back at least once a day. This takes away a lot from you, without you knowing.
As Cal Newport said: “Attention is scarce and fragile... Efforts to deepen your focus will struggle if you don't simultaneously wean your mind from a dependence on distraction.”
The Expenses Of Lost Focus
Image Credits: AI-Generated
What comes with the reasons is the loss. Because of the aforementioned causes, the effects of a shorter attention span are:
Loss Of Academic Focus:
Students of this age have remarkable access to information. It is very difficult to have them absorb it in the right quantity and in the right manner. It is a boon as well as a curse. Most of the children nowadays have access to smartphones where they watch any and every type of content. Most of them are even involved in making content. This makes it very challenging to have them focus on complex structures and concepts in academics. The outcome is a 2-hour study session for something that can be done in 30 minutes. They might study enough, but it doesn’t mean it was done well.
Loss Of Creativity:
Creativity comes from consistency. Consistency requires attention. Less attention is rationally proportional to having zero creativity. You can thrive better when you have worked on a particular thing for an adequate amount of time. Anything that requires creativity requires an uninterrupted thought process. But instead of creating, we are currently just busy consuming.
Loss Of Productivity:
Attention to Detail - this is literally a significant skill that employers look for in a resume. Something as simple as doing a job you are paid for with attention has now become an extra skill. While juggling emails, meetings and messaging, attention span is obviously going to be affected. This has given rise to ‘attention residue’-thinking about a previous task while doing the current task. Such multitasking often allows more mistakes and longer-than-expected completion time. It causes mental fatigue.
Loss Of Relationships:
A text message or a call can never make up for physical meetings. Shorter attention spans don’t just affect work and creativity, it also affect people. Attention and time are the only way to stay connected with our loved ones. Having a short attention span makes conversations and connections dry and distorted. Being distracted while talking to someone is clearly not a sign of respect. It makes the relationship fragmented.
Loss Of Mental Wellbeing:
The most significant part of being in the present is having good mental health. Good mental health comes when you feed the right information to your mind. The youth today is often distracted by unrealistic expectations and wants that do not fall into their respective family budget. When they look at someone walking around the Eiffel Tower or attending celebrity parties, the youth questions why they can’t have the same lifestyle. This changes their perspective, and they end up feeling unsatisfied. It is not wrong to dream big, but setting dreams and goals based on what you see others doing, and not doing what you are actually crafted for, is wrong. This mental exhaustion affects daily relationships.
How To Rebuild Your Attention Span?
Now that you are aware of the problem and its effects, let us focus on the remedies for improving attention span. You can learn how to concentrate and focus better. Your goals will be easy to achieve once you can explore new limits of your brain.
One task at a time:
Stop doing 10 things at once. Pick one task, finish it within a set timeline, and then move on to the next. It will be difficult initially, but over time, it will help in building focus and dedication. Our ancestors had such tasks, their professions, like farming, weaving, carpentry, reading, writing letters. Such jobs could only be done one at a time. That is the reason why they had less load on their brain, less anxiety and lived a full and satisfied life even in poor conditions.
You control your devices:
Multiple phone models have features like limiting your screen time, where you can set notifications and hourly limits to refrain from constant phone use. You can also disable notifications from unnecessary applications to keep yourself from your phone at every blink. If you don’t control your phone, it will control you. Try to block your phone usage by disabling games or any applications that create an urge for you to feel validated with the rewards. Keep multiple timers and turn them on silent mode while studying or working on important tasks.
Be a book-friend:
Reading feeds the mind. Paperback books only. Reading online means more screen time that can easily transition to texting and scrolling. Keep your phone away and read at least 15-20 minutes before you go to sleep. Start developing a habit with reading just one page every day. Reading can widen perspectives and give the reader a feeling of being disconnected from the world. Mindfully practising it can trick the brain into being content without constantly worrying or checking about the world through the phone.
Work.Break.Repeat:
Schedule work blocks. If you constantly find yourself getting distracted, you are your own helper. Take control of your time in your hands. Design work blocks that can help you be more productive. For example, take an important task and treat it like a VVIP meeting with yourself. Do not answer any calls or messages during that time before completing the task. You can allot 90-120 minutes for it, and split it into parts. Work for 25-30 minutes, take a strict 5-minute break, and repeat. If distraction is still a problem, you can use website-blocking sites.
Move your body:
Do not compromise on healthy sleep and exercise. Getting sunlight, moving around or going for walks is scientifically proven to repair a damaged mind. Nature helps revive lost creativity and eventually aids in more productivity. Sleeping on time and keeping your physical health in good shape can make your cortisol and dopamine levels better. With a healthy body, you can conquer every dream without any setbacks.
Phone Boxes:
Some Chinese homes now have phone boxes where every family member leaves their phone before sitting together for meals or television time. This ensures full attention for other family members or kids, improving relationships and making the attention span better. It is also a great way to train the mind to be away from gadgets for a few hours in a day. This practice should start in all homes.
Pay Attention - The New Superpower
Image Credits - AI-Generated
Keeping your focus on necessary things is not as easy as it sounds. It is important to keep your mind in check. As humans, we encounter millions of thoughts, possibilities and opportunities, but seldom do we connect with them. We fail at developing bonds. It is important to learn how to concentrate and focus to meet deadlines, targets and finish tasks at a reasonable time. Work done late is no work done at all.
Try these remedies to improve your attention span and create a new environment for you and your loved ones. If you see significant improvement, connect with us via Instagram/Email. We would love to feature your wins.
