Although I am a personal development blogger by profession, I am in no way a mental health professional. See my disclaimer for more info.
Having trouble focusing on important things? I’ll teach you all about how to increase attention span!
Are you having trouble staying concentrated on one thing at a time?
The human attention span has decreased in the last 5 years or so. Big time! I remember I used to be able to sit through an hour-long vlog on YouTube or read a chapter of a book with no problem.
But now, since I’ve been consuming more short-form content, I tend to get bored of longer styles of media. It wasn’t until recently that I noticed this and how it affected my attention span. And it’s a common thing, too!
If you notice that your attention span is getting shorter, don’t worry! In this post, I’m going to give you some tips to increase your focus.
Are you ready? Let’s do it!
This post is all about how to increase attention span.
What is an attention span?
First, let’s get the basics out the way. What even is an attention span, and what’s the average for everyone?
An attention span is how long you’re able to concentrate on one thing. This could be work, school, cleaning, or other tasks.
The average attention span for us humans is only 8.25 seconds. That’s so short!
And our focus is only getting shorter due to a number of factors. Let’s talk about those in the next section!
What affects your attention span?
There are many things that impact our ability to focus on something. The can include:
- A cognitive/neurological issue such as ADHD, autism, or dyslexia
- Mental health issues like depression
- Physical issues such as a head injury
And this isn’t even a full list of things that affect your attention span. These are the most common factors.
Now that you know the basics, I’m going to give you my top 7 tips on how to increase your attention span.
These tips should help you concentrate better and get things done!
How to Increase Attention Span:
1. Stop trying to multitask
Do you try to multitask to get multiple things done in one sitting?
Well, it turns out that multitasking isn’t very effective. If anything, it might stress you out since you’re doing too many things at once.
It’s impossible (or difficult, at least) to switch between 2 or more tasks. Your brain will have trouble focusing on what you’re trying to do.
So, just stop multitasking and concentrate on one thing at a time. You’ll be able to put all your time and energy into that task, and get the results you desire.
Many times I’m trying to work on a project, but, at the same time, I’m thinking about something completely different.
It makes it so hard to be as productive as possible.
I’ve definitely been working on this lately, and I encourage you to do the same!
RELATED POST: 5 Insanely Helpful Tips on How to Manage Time
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2. Avoid distractions
It can be hard to focus when outside forces are distracting you. These forces can be:
- Natural environmental sounds
- People around you
- Your pets
- Your phone
- Your child
If you’re distracted by these or other things, try to minimize what’s getting in your way of being productive. I know it can be hard sometimes, especially if you have kids to tend to.
But as long as you can have the smallest number of distractions possible, you can focus much better.
I like to avoid distractions by:
- Putting my phone on do-not-disturb (DND)
- Letting others know I’m about to work
- Sitting at my desk instead of my bed
- Keeping the TV off
- Closing my door
3. Do things that require high focus
Maybe the things you’re doing don’t require that much focus. That’s probably why you’re having a hard time paying attention.
If you want to concentrate something, it’s better that it requires you to focus on it for a longer time.
This can include:
- Long-form content like YouTube videos and blog posts
- Brain games
- Podcasts
- Books
Nowadays, short-form content is in style. And I don’t blame anyone for it, either.
I love scrolling on TikTok for a while, but that damages my attention span.
The videos are usually only 30 seconds and if I don’t like one, I can quickly move onto the next. But with YouTube, the videos are usually about 15 minutes.
This will keep my attention much longer than a TikTok.
You can still indulge in short-form content, but make sure you include long-from media also. This way, you’re still engaging in activities that help to increase your attention span.
THINK: What’s your favorite activity that requires a lot of concentration? How often do you enjoy it? Tell me in the comments!
4. Create a quiet, dedicated work space
Like I said earlier, different noises can affect your focus.
Create a quiet work space that you enjoy so you can pay attention to your work. This works because you go to this space and know exactly what you’re about to do.
It doesn’t have to be over the top, either! Just make a space so your environment is quiet and ideal for being productive.
5. Have insightful conversations with others
Having insightful conversations with people can increase your attention span.
I find that when I’m having a good chat with someone, my conversation with them is the only thinking about in the moment.
Talk with others about things you’re interested in, or even have a venting session with someone! You’ll be shocked at how fast the time goes by and how you really only focus on that conversation.
6. Do things you actually enjoy
Look, it’s going to be hard to focus on something if it’s boring or uneventful.
No matter how hard you try, it probably won’t keep your attention because you don’t have the willpower to focus on it.
So, try to focus on things that you actually enjoy, like reading, painting, or other hobbies and activities.
I know this isn’t always helpful, especially with work or school. Sometimes you just have to put it in your mind that you have to sit and concentrate.
RELATED POST: 67 Stress-Free Hobbies for Adults to Enjoy During Your Free Time
7. Practice mindfulness
When you’re doing a mindful activity like meditating or praying, that’s the only thing you’re thinking about in the moment. It’s kind of similar to tip #5, isn’t it?
You’re not focusing on what happened yesterday or your plans for tomorrow. No; you’re concentrating on what’s happening right now.
Over time, these kinds of activities will allow you to concentrate much better and longer!
I talk more about mindfulness (specifically meditation) in this post. Check it out to learn how to be a more mindful person!
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Let’s recap!
We made it to the end of the post!
Today, we talked about how to increase your attention span.
These little things are getting shorter as time goes on. But they don’t have to stay that way! Use some of these tips to increase your focus and be more productive!
Please remember to take time to take care of yourself!
I know, in this economy, it can be hard to find free things to do that are fun. That’s why I put together a list of 7 free self care activities to enjoy today!
In the midst of chaos, don’t forget to smile,
DeMarcus – your self care buddy
PIN IT FOR LATER:
This post was all about how to increase attention span.
Embracing single-tasking has been a real game-changer for my productivity and focus! 🙂
I know, right?! It’s so hard to try to juggle multiple tasks at once, so it’s better to focus on one thing at a time. That makes all the difference! Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Giada!