Short Attention Spans: Does It Impact Your Work?

If you believe everything you read on the internet, then you might think that today’s humans (I promise I’m not an alien… or an AI) have an attention span of just 8 seconds.

Which means you just about managed to get through that sentence before thinking about elephants. And if you weren’t thinking about elephants, I bet you are now.

But where was I? Oh yes — attention spans. Do they impact your work? And if so, what can you do to help improve it?

What Is an Attention Span?

Attention span refers to the amount of time an individual can focus on a particular task before becoming bored out of their mind and becoming distracted. They play a crucial role in our ability to work effectively and efficiently.

With the rise of technology and a lot of us being terminally online, it feels warranted to say that our attention spans are decreasing. Unfortunately, this decline has significant implications on our productivity and work performance.

Short attention spans screw up productivity as you’ll no doubt find yourself switching between tasks more frequently, leading to interruptions and increased cognitive load. This then leaves us feeling mentally exhausted, leading to decreased productivity and even sloppy work.

Another way short attention spans are wreaking havoc on our work is that it affects our ability to learn and retain information. When we are unable to focus for extended periods, we may not absorb information effectively, leading to gaps in our knowledge and understanding. This can also affect our problem-solving abilities as we may not be able to fully comprehend complex problems and find solutions.

In addition to work performance, short attention spans can also have negative effects on our overall health and wellbeing. Constantly checking your phone and being bombarded with notifications can lead to increased stress levels, anxiety, and decreased mental health.

Stats About Short Attention Spans

Remember in the intro where I mentioned that our attention spans are only 8 seconds long? Well, that is indeed a myth (or at least highly questionable).

It’s even been debunked that goldfish have short attention spans and memories. Which makes you wonder why there was anti-goldfish sentiment in the first place.

So, what are the real facts? Well, a recent survey of the UK public conducted at King’s College London reveals some insightful tidbits:

• 49% said they feel their attention spans are shorter.
• It seems UK adults are lying to themselves about how often they check their phones. They reported checking them 25 times a day on average, when studies suggest the reality is up to 80 times a day.
• Half of people questioned said as hard as they try, they just can’t stop checking their smartphones when they should be focusing on other things.

How to Help Improve Your Attention Span

So, to help you improve your attention spans and work more effectively, we’ve put together a few strategies:

1. Take breaks: This might sound counterintuitive but hear us out: short breaks throughout the day can help you recharge and refocus. Research has shown that taking regular breaks can improve productivity and reduce stress levels.
2. Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness techniques like meditation and deep breathing can work wonders for your focus and attention span.
3. Minimise distractions: Turn off notifications and minimise distractions to help you stay focused on the task at hand. And yes, this includes your phone.
4. Prioritise tasks: Figure out what tasks are important or causing stress and prioritise them. Getting these troublesome tasks out of the way can help you alleviate stress and become more zen — thus improving your concentration.
5. Set goals: Setting specific goals can help you stay motivated and focused on the task at hand. Ask yourself “what tasks do I need to complete so I can enjoy my evening stress-free?”

Do We Still Have Your Attention?

If you’ve made it this far, then well done! Your attention span is already better than the other 49% of people who gave up (did you know that only 51% of readers finish articles?)

Anyway, we hope we introduced you to some strategies that will help you improve your focus and concentration, and ultimately give your productivity and overall work performance a kick up the arse.

For more fascinating workplace advice or stats, check out our 6 Tips for Managing 4 Generations in the Workplace or The Very Real Benefits of Gender Diversity in the Workplace.