Not long ago, reports appeared comparing the attention span of humans with fish. It has been claimed that the average attention span of a goldfish is only nine seconds – a full second longer than the average attention span of a human. Firstly, this was an unjust attack on goldfish, which demonstrated impressive ability to remember directions. Secondly, if you manage to get past the second paragraph of this article, you may have just proven the statistics wrong.
Evidence on whether average attention span actually decreases is mixed and inconclusive. chronically online or regularly juggling different types of media affects cognition.
Whether this is true or not, many people definitely feel like their attention span is diminishing. survey In a study conducted by King's College London in 2022, almost half (49 per cent) of respondents said they felt their attention span was worse than before, while one in two (51 per cent) believed technology was having a negative impact on young people's attention span.
The good news is that if you feel like your focus is waning, there are science-based techniques that can help you improve your focus.
Read more: Research on the effects of screen time on attention span
1. Take a break to improve your concentration
While it may seem counterintuitive, there is evidence that taking a break can improve your focus. According to Gloria Mark—a psychologist whose research shows the average attention span on any screen has fallen from two and a half minutes in 2004 to 47 seconds—regular breaks can boost energy levels and attention spans, allowing us to be more productive.
“The problem is that in our current world [and] in many work environments, people neglect to take meaningful breaks, and as a result, we end up in a position where our productivity suffers,” she said on the podcast. Talking about psychologywhich is produced by the American Psychological Association.
The type of break can also affect its effectiveness. There is some evidence that laughter can improve concentration: One study suggests that exposure to humor increases persistence on a subsequent task. Meanwhile, other studies have shown that breaks in exercise can increase attention to the task And concentrationgoing out into nature intensifies working memory.
2. Add meditation and mindfulness to your daily routine.
Research has shown that incorporating mindfulness and meditation into your daily life can improve attention and working memory. Indeed, according to a study published in Consciousness and cognition, You can experience cognitive benefits after just four days of meditation. The practice was connected with a reduced level of stress, which was shown negatively affect the level of cognition and attention.
3. A healthy lifestyle can improve your concentration.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is beneficial for a number of reasons, and attention is one of them. Researchers writing in Integrated Physiology emphasized the role of diet and exercise when it comes to cognitive health and attention, stating:
“People who are more active or fitter are able to pay more attention to their environment and process information faster.”
It is equally important to maintain a regular sleep schedule. research suggesting that “consistent, stable sleep of at least seven hours per night improves working memory.”
More specifically, berries, omega-3and, perhaps less surprisingly, caffeine all were associated with longer attention spans.
4. Add calming elements to your environment
Making certain changes to your workspace can help improve your focus, whether by adding plants or paint your home office a calming shade of blue. Evidence suggests that color can affect your ability to concentrate. research pointing to cooler shades improves attention and memory.
When it comes to music, the evidence is mixed, but it may depend on the type of music you listen to. Recent Research linked slow music to “attentional orientation and the ability to focus on relevant goals while ignoring distractions,” while other studies suggested that music with lyrics may negative effect on concentration.
Read more: In the human brain, attention is first focused on simple functions and then on details.
Article Sources
Our authors in discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed research and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:
