Average attention span: the goldfish myth, and how to focus longer
You’ve probably heard that humans now have a shorter attention span than a goldfish. That stat has no real source. Here’s what researchers actually measure, and what helps.
“The average attention span is now 8 seconds, shorter than a goldfish.” It’s one of the most-repeated facts on the internet, and it isn’t true. But the worry behind it, that screens are fragmenting our focus, does have some real research behind it. Here’s what’s known.
Where the goldfish myth came from
In 2015, a Microsoft Canada marketing report claimed human attention had fallen to 8 seconds, below a goldfish’s 9. The figure came from a statistics website that couldn’t provide a credible source when journalists, including a BBC investigation, went looking. There’s also no good evidence about goldfish attention spans. The stat should be retired.
The deeper problem is that “attention span” isn’t one number. People can focus for hours on a film or a game they love and lose interest in a dull form within seconds. Attention depends on the task, your motivation, how rested you are and what’s competing for it.
What researchers actually measure
Screen switching. Gloria Mark at the University of California, Irvine, has tracked how long office workers stay on one screen before switching. In 2004 it averaged about 2.5 minutes. In recent years it’s about 47 seconds. Nearly half of switches are self-interruptions: nobody pinged us, we just went to check something. After an interruption, Mark says getting back to the original task can take up to about 25 minutes.
That 47 seconds is often quoted as our new “attention span”, but it measures how often we switch screens at work, not how long we’re able to concentrate.
Mind-wandering. In a 2010 study, Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert used an iPhone app to check in with 2,250 people at random moments. Their minds were wandering 46.9% of the time, and wandering minds were less happy, regardless of the activity.
How to focus longer: what the evidence supports
1. Sleep. A meta-analysis of sleep deprivation studies found simple attention and vigilance take the biggest hit from lost sleep, more than complex reasoning. If focus is a struggle, sleep is the first thing to check. See sleep and memory.
2. Put your phone in another room. In a 2017 study of about 800 people, those whose phones were in another room did better on memory and reasoning tasks than those whose phones were on the desk or in a pocket or bag, even when the phone was silent. A 2023 review of 22 studies found the effect is real but small, and clearest for memory.
3. Single-task. Switching between tasks costs time and accuracy, and most people overestimate how well they multitask. Our guide to multitasking and the brain covers the research.
4. Schedule hard work for your peak hours. Mark recommends doing demanding work when you’re naturally most alert, and taking real breaks before you’re exhausted. In one of her studies, cutting off email for a work week helped people focus longer and feel less stressed.
5. Try mindfulness training. In a small 2013 study, 2 weeks of mindfulness classes reduced mind-wandering and improved working memory and reading-test scores in students. Promising, though the study was small. More in meditation and the brain.
6. Move. A single workout gives a small boost to thinking for a while afterwards. See exercise and memory.
7. Make the task engaging. Attention follows interest. Short, clear goals, a bit of challenge and quick feedback all help, which is also why games are so good at holding attention.
Test your focus
Digit span tests need a few seconds of complete focus: drift for a moment and the sequence is gone. Try it:
The daily Sequence game is the full version. It’s a quick, fun way to practise holding your attention for the length of one round.
If trouble focusing is persistent and affecting work, school or relationships, it can be a sign of ADHD, a sleep disorder, depression or anxiety. A doctor can help sort out what’s going on.
This article is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. If you’re worried about your memory, thinking or health, talk to a doctor.
Sources
- Fast Company: the 8-second attention span is a myth
- UC Irvine: Gloria Mark on regaining focus in a world of digital distractions
- Killingsworth & Gilbert (2010), Science: a wandering mind is an unhappy mind (Harvard Gazette)
- Ward et al. (2017): the mere presence of your smartphone reduces cognitive capacity (ScienceDaily)
- Böttger et al. (2023), Behavioral Sciences: smartphone presence meta-analysis
- Lim & Dinges (2010), Psychological Bulletin: sleep deprivation and cognition, a meta-analysis
- Mrazek et al. (2013), Psychological Science: mindfulness training improves working memory (ScienceDaily)
- Chang et al. (2012), Brain Research: acute exercise and cognition
Frequently asked questions
What is the average human attention span?
There isn’t a single number. Attention depends on the task, your interest, sleep and distractions. The famous “8 seconds” figure has no credible source. One researcher found office workers now switch screens about every 47 seconds on average, but that measures screen-switching, not the limit of human focus.
Do humans have a shorter attention span than a goldfish?
No. The claim came from a 2015 marketing report that cited a statistics website, which couldn’t provide a credible source. There’s no scientific basis for it.
How long does it take to refocus after an interruption?
Researcher Gloria Mark has found it can take up to about 25 minutes to get back to an interrupted task, often because people do other things in between.
How can I improve my attention span?
Sleep enough, put your phone in another room, do one task at a time, schedule hard work for your most alert hours, take short breaks, and exercise. Mindfulness training also shows some promise.
Does having your phone nearby affect focus?
In a 2017 study, people did best on memory and reasoning tasks when their phone was in another room, even compared with having it silent in a bag. A later review found the effect is small and clearest for memory.