Over the holidays, I noticed something odd at the movies: I couldn't focus on what was happening on the big screen. My mind kept wondering what was happening on the small screen in my pocket. What texts, emails, and Facebook notifications was I missing while my iPhone was on airplane mode?
Afterwards, I checked back into the Wi-Fi world, only to find that I hadn't missed a thing. What I had missed was the chance to completely immerse myself in the world of Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them. I couldn't help but wonder, is my attention span really so poor that I can't enjoy a two-hour movie?
"Nowadays, it can feel odd to focus on a single thing," says Ben Parr, author of Captivology: The Science Of Capturing People's Attention. We're so used to multitasking during the day — whether we're hopping from one app to another or simultaneously using our laptops and phones — that our ability to stay tuned into one task has suffered. Even the smallest distraction, like an incoming calendar reminder or Twitter notification, has the power to derail us from what we were doing.
The detriments of a poor attention span are clear and extend far beyond productivity at work, Parr says. If we're constantly focusing on something else, it's harder to be present and enjoy spending time with friends or meeting someone new. This is an ideology that dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble have thrived on: Why settle down with one person when you can constantly swipe to find someone new? If we're always looking for the next best thing, it's harder to recognize when we actually have something that's pretty great.
So, how do you tackle the problem when the problem is your mind? Ahead, six things you can do to get your attention span back on track in 2017.
Isolate Tasks
"The enemy to our attention spans is multitasking," Parr says. One way to avoid it is to break down individual tasks at work or even errands you want to accomplish on the weekend. Use an app like Wunderlist to specify steps that you'll need to take to accomplish the goal at hand and list goal start and end times for each.
Photo: Wunderlist.
Set A Timer
Parr suggests using something called the Pomodoro Technique (yes, Pomodoro, like the sauce) when you have a task to get done. The technique, created by consultant Francesco Cirillo, essentially says that you should delineate small chunks of time — 10, 20, 30 minutes — to each item on your to-do list.
Use your phone's timer app to stick to the limit. Within that time, only focus on that task alone.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
Turn Off Push Notifications
To help avoid distractions during those time frames, go to your phone's settings and toggle off notifications for any apps that aren't absolutely essential. Some good ones to include would be Facebook, Snapchat, (Tinder, perhaps?), even mail — anything that you're used to checking as soon as a notification pops up.
And unless you're worried that there might be an emergency or you're expecting a text from you boss, it's a smart idea to turn off pings for iMessage, too.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
Try An App Blocker
If you don't want to deal with switching on and off notifications for individual apps, try an app blocker. Ones like Freedom and SelfControl let you choose start and end times during which the app will block access to your social media accounts. These apps can't block incoming texts or calls, though, so you'll have to resist those (or turn off notifications) on your own.
Photo: Freedom.
Train Your Attention
Games aren't the answer, but if you have free time in line at Starbucks or on the subway, ones geared towards improving attention can help. Try out Lumosity or Elevate, both of which offer "brain workouts" that train your brain to focus on one task at a time.
Photo: Lumosity.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, it's you — not an app — that controls your attention span. "There is no magical app or thing that will help you concentrate, except maybe turning your phone or computer off completely," Parr says. "Increasing your attention span is about awareness."
If you can take note of when your attention starts wandering, you'll be one step closer to regaining focus. And when all else fails, take a break, do something else, and then come back to what you were doing before.
Photo: Madeline Buxton.
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