What will I learn about: The average time a worker spends on a computer screen before switching attention has drastically shrunk from 2.5 minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds today?

The average time a worker spends on a computer screen before switching attention has drastically shrunk from 2.5 minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds today.

What will I learn about: Constant deep focus is a myth; our brains require 'rote' low-effort activities to serve as mini-breaks that replenish our limited cognitive energy?

Constant deep focus is a myth; our brains require 'rote' low-effort activities to serve as mini-breaks that replenish our limited cognitive energy.

What will I learn about: People switch their attention without any visible trigger 44 percent of the time, interrupting themselves almost as often as they are interrupted by outside forces?

People switch their attention without any visible trigger 44 percent of the time, interrupting themselves almost as often as they are interrupted by outside forces.

What will I learn about: Rather than forcing continuous productivity, you should align your hardest tasks with your natural attention rhythms, which typically peak around 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m?

Rather than forcing continuous productivity, you should align your hardest tasks with your natural attention rhythms, which typically peak around 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

What will I learn about: To reclaim digital agency, cultivate meta-awareness by actively questioning what you gain from digital platforms and planting time-based 'hooks' to pull yourself out of rote breaks?

To reclaim digital agency, cultivate meta-awareness by actively questioning what you gain from digital platforms and planting time-based 'hooks' to pull yourself out of rote breaks.

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Attention Span

A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity

Gloria Mark

★ 4.5 / 5(934 ratings)

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Categories:

Productivity Science Technology & the Future Psychology

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Why do knowledge workers rarely experience a state of 'flow,' and what are the four distinct types of attention we actually cycle through instead?
💡How has the average time spent on a single computer screen plummeted to just 47 seconds, and why do we self-interrupt almost as often as external distractions do?
💡Why might engaging in 'mindless' digital activities like playing Candy Crush actually be necessary for replenishing your cognitive energy throughout the workday?

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Key Takeaways from Attention Span

✓The average time a worker spends on a computer screen before switching attention has drastically shrunk from 2.5 minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds today.
✓Constant deep focus is a myth; our brains require 'rote' low-effort activities to serve as mini-breaks that replenish our limited cognitive energy.
✓People switch their attention without any visible trigger 44 percent of the time, interrupting themselves almost as often as they are interrupted by outside forces.
✓Rather than forcing continuous productivity, you should align your hardest tasks with your natural attention rhythms, which typically peak around 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
✓To reclaim digital agency, cultivate meta-awareness by actively questioning what you gain from digital platforms and planting time-based 'hooks' to pull yourself out of rote breaks.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Attention Span

Mind Map

Attention Span

The State of Modern Attention+

The Rhythms of Attention+

The Attention Economy+

Reclaiming Digital Agency+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8

According to Gloria Mark's research, how has the average time spent on a single computer screen before shifting attention changed from 2004 to 2021?

A. It decreased from 3 minutes to 1.5 minutes.
B. It decreased from 2.5 minutes to 47 seconds.
C. It increased slightly due to the development of better productivity software.
D. It remained relatively stable at around 3 minutes.

Question 2 of 8

How does the book categorize the attentional state where a person is highly engaged but not at all challenged, such as when playing Candy Crush?

A. Flow state
B. Bored state
C. Rote state
D. Focused state

Question 3 of 8

Why does the author argue that the concept of 'flow' is largely a myth for modern knowledge workers?

A. Knowledge workers generally lack the discipline required to achieve a flow state.
B. Flow requires physical movement, which traditional office jobs do not provide.
C. Digital devices prevent the human brain from entering any state of deep engagement.
D. Jobs involving communication, research, and analysis rarely offer opportunities for uninterrupted deep focus.

Question 4 of 8

What surprising finding did researchers discover regarding workplace interruptions?

A. External notifications account for 90% of all work interruptions.
B. People interrupt themselves almost as often as they are interrupted by outside forces.
C. Interruptions actually improve cognitive resources by providing forced mental breaks.
D. It takes the average person less than 5 minutes to fully recover from a major interruption.

Question 5 of 8

What counterintuitive discovery was made regarding highly conscientious people and digital distractions?

A. They spend more time on entertainment websites than their peers but use them as conscious breaks.
B. They never experience the 'rote' state of attention during work hours.
C. They are more likely to fall into YouTube rabbit holes because they feel compelled to finish what they start.
D. They are the only demographic capable of true multitasking without losing performance.

Question 6 of 8

According to the text, why is the internet inherently effective at capturing and holding our attention?

A. It relies exclusively on short-form video content to keep our heart rates continuously elevated.
B. Its network structure of hyperlinks perfectly mimics the associative, mind-wandering structure of the human brain.
C. It eliminates the need for working memory, making browsing completely effortless.
D. It forces users into a state of 'flow' by constantly challenging their cognitive limits.

Question 7 of 8

What psychological view does the author advocate for when discussing our ability to reclaim control over our digital behavior?

A. Absolute free will, meaning we can ignore all digital distractions through sheer willpower.
B. Technological determinism, meaning algorithms have completely overridden human choice.
C. Soft determinism, meaning our digital conditioning shapes our behavior but doesn't completely control it.
D. Cognitive dissonance, meaning we subconsciously hate our devices but are biologically forced to use them.

Question 8 of 8

What is a recommended strategy for safely managing 'rote' digital breaks, such as scrolling social media or playing a simple game?

A. Only engage in these activities after 5:00 p.m. to avoid ruining morning focus.
B. Plant a 'hook' by scheduling the break right before a hard stop, like a scheduled call.
C. Completely eliminate these activities and replace them exclusively with physical exercise.
D. Combine them with deep focus tasks to train and strengthen the brain's multitasking abilities.

Attention Span — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
2Declining attention spans in today’s digital age
3The natural rhythms of attention
4The unseen costs of distraction and multitasking
5Surviving in the modern attention economy
6Taking back control of your attention

Attention Span Summary & Overview

Attention Span (2023) examines the connection between the digital age and our capacity for attention. As digital devices have become inextricable from our lives, our attention spans have shortened and our stress levels have risen. Drawing on scientific research, it debunks modern myths about attention and explains how we can reclaim it for better well-being.

Who Should Listen to Attention Span?

Anyone worried about their decreasing attention span
Those who have trouble disconnecting from their phone
People who feel stressed, exhausted, and burned out

About the Author: Gloria Mark

Gloria Mark is a psychologist and professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine. Initially trained as an artist, Mark later became an expert in the field of human-computer interaction. She has researched people’s daily interactions with technology for almost two decades, and her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, NPR, and the BBC.