Speaking of Psychology: Why our attention spans are shrinking

Not only are our attention spans shrinking, but they are also being challenged more than ever by the constant demands of modern technology and media.

While the somewhat humorous suggestion that humans now have shorter attention spans than goldfish may be exaggerated, experts agree that our ability to maintain focus is being eroded as our attention is increasingly fragmented by a flood of digital distractions.

Not only is our ability to focus decreasing, but technology and constant information overload are pulling our attention in more directions. In a world filled with notifications, multitasking, and digital distractions, our brains are constantly switching tasks, and that switch comes at a cost.

Research shows that frequent task switching can increase stress and reduce overall productivity. Instead of doing many things at once, focusing deeply on one task at a time—also called "monotasking"—can improve both efficiency and mental clarity.

Quick Tip: Try setting aside specific blocks of time for focused work without checking your phone or email. Even short, uninterrupted sessions can help retrain your brain to stay engaged longer and improve cognitive stamina.

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