8.25 seconds. That’s it. That’s all that marketers have to make people believe that their product is good. An average adult person has an attention span of 8.25 seconds, which means that you have no guarantee that anything after those 8 seconds will be registered. Do you want to know what the attention span of a goldfish is? Just 9 seconds, so we’re close to that.
This number tells us one thing: that attention is a thing even money can’t seem to buy and it’s getting thinner and thinner. And get this, research is saying that our attention span has gone down a whopping 25% from 2000 to 2015, and it’s not planning to go up anytime soon either.
So why do we have such a short attention span and how can you as a brand use this to race and satisfy the customer? Let’s find out your answers!
Understanding Attention Span
Do you ever zone out when your boss is giving an important meeting and find yourself thinking about what you want to eat for lunch? Or maybe you’re working from home and you just can’t get done with this task because you keep getting distracted from the cat. Does that sound like you? It’s actually very normal to get sidetracked by these little things. But what exactly is this attention span?
Attention span is basically how long you can stay focused on something without your mind wandering off to other thoughts or distractions. Think of your attention as a spotlight that can shine on different things. When you’re dialed in, the spotlight is firmly fixed on the task at hand. But if your mind starts to get sidetracked by other stuff, that spotlight drifts away, and suddenly you’re thinking about what you ate for lunch last night.
So, what is it that makes our attention span almost the same as that of a goldfish?
Biological Factors
Biologically, our brains have a limit to how much they can focus. When you start daydreaming during a meeting, it’s your brain’s way of saying, “Hey, I need a breather!” Just like you recharge your phone, your brain needs breaks to stay sharp. Feeling tired, hungry, or dealing with certain health stuff can also affect your attention span. So, if you catch yourself zoning out, maybe it’s your brain asking for a time out, and don’t worry, it’ll be back soon.
Environmental Factors
Imagine trying to read in a loud, busy coffee shop – not the easiest, right? Well, where you are can seriously mess with your attention span. A quiet, comfy space is the best place to concentrate without getting distracted. But, if your environment is all chaos and distractions, staying focused becomes a race against all odds. If you’re working from home, try setting up a spot that’s your attention HQ – less noise, less chaos. Try to turn off your phone pings, make the family members stay away from the working area, and take breaks to give the mind a rest.
Psychological Factors
Our thoughts and emotions also have a say in where our attention goes. Stress, anxiety, or even excitement can shift the spotlight of our attention. If anything in your life is making you feel overwhelmed or anxious, then you will be constantly thinking about it and your mind will get distracted from the task at hand. For some people, being stressed is the biggest deal breaker because they simply can’t think of anything else, let alone give their complete attention to it.
Types of Attention
Yes, there are different types of attention as well. Let’s find out about it!
- Sustained Attention:
Think of sustained attention as the long-haul trucker of focus – it’s all about keeping your eyes on the road without changing lanes. If you find your mind taking detours during tasks, try breaking them into smaller chunks. It’s like pit stops on your focus journey, helping you stay on track without burning out.
- Selective Attention:
Ever had to focus on one voice in a noisy room? That’s the magic of selective attention. You want to listen to just your boss giving insights and tune out the other coworkers laughing and talking. If you’re in a bar, you want to hear what the other person is saying and ignore all the other noises surrounding you.
- Divided Attention:
Time to put on your multitasking hat! Divided attention is the art of juggling multiple tasks like a circus performer. It’s like walking a tightrope of focus. To get divided attention, start small – practice with simple tasks and gradually level up.
- Alternating Attention:
Switching tasks smoothly? Alternating attention is when you are doing one task and then switch to another task but once that is completed, you come back to the original one and complete it too. So for example, if your manager asks you to create some urgent reports while you’re working on other tasks, you will put them on hold and give alternating attention to both things. At the end of the day, both tasks will end up being completed.
Attention Span Across Ages
Early Childhood:
- 2 years old: 4-6 minutes
- 3 years old: 6-8 minutes
- 4 years old: 8-12 minutes
- 5-6 years old: 12-18 minutes
- 7-8 years old: 16-24 minutes
- 9-10 years old: 20-30 minutes
- 11-12 years old: 25-35 minutes
Adolescence and Beyond:
- 13-15 years old: 30-40 minutes
- 16+ years old: 32-50+ minutes
Generational Differences:
- Gen Z (born mid-1990s to early 2010s): 8 seconds (similar to a goldfish)
- Millennials (born early 1980s to mid-1990s): 12 seconds
- Baby Boomers (born 1946 to 1964): 20 seconds
- Silent Generation (born 1925 to 1945): 25 seconds
How Does Technology Affect Attention Span in Humans
Alright, let’s talk about how technology plays with our attention span. You know when your phone buzzes with a notification, and suddenly you’re pulled away from what you were doing? You have to check what notification it is or it’ll almost be the end of the world if you don’t. That’s the tech effect. We live in a world full of apps, messages, and updates that are constantly tapping us on the shoulder, saying, “Hey, look at me!” It’s like having a bunch of chatty friends who never let you finish a thought. This constant digital noise makes it tricky to stick with one task for too long because there’s always something new trying to steal our attention.
Now, think about the apps on your phone – they’re designed to be interesting and grab your eyes so they stick to the screen. It’s like a mini-show happening on your screen. The problem is, this constant entertainment can turn into a habit of quickly jumping between activities. It’s like channel surfing on TV, but now it’s happening in your head. This habit can make our attention spans a bit shorter because our brains get used to the idea that something exciting is just a tap away. It’s not that we can’t focus; it’s just that our digital world has trained us to expect a constant flow of new stuff. Do you get what I’m saying?
But, hold on, it’s not all bad news. Technology also brings some cool tools to the table. Imagine having an app that teaches you new things in a fun way – that’s the positive side. Educational apps, online courses, and interactive content can be like your personal learning buddies. They make it interesting to pick up new skills or knowledge. The trick is finding a balance. We can use technology to learn and have fun, but it’s important to set some ground rules. By being mindful of how much time we spend scrolling and consciously deciding when to unplug, we can keep our attention span in check.
How to Get Attention? 8 Ways to Keep Humans Engaged
Getting attention is a bit like being on stage – you want to be interesting, relatable, and quick on your feet so the audience doesn’t get bored. Whether you’re trying to stand out in a crowded room or in the vast digital space, here are some strategies to grab and hold onto attention:
Create a Compelling Hook
Think of your message as a magnetic force pulling people in, and the hook is like the sparkle that catches their eye. Like a catchy song that gets stuck in your head, or a story that makes you want to know more, a compelling hook is the secret sauce. It’s that “Wait, what’s this?” moment. You can achieve this by kicking off with a bold statement that makes eyebrows raise, posing an intriguing question that tickles the brain, or dropping a surprising fact that makes jaws drop. It’s the spark that ignites curiosity, forcing people to lean in and say, “Tell me more!”
Imagine you’re at a party, and someone starts a conversation with a wild story or a question that blows your mind. You can’t help but want to know the punchline or the answer. That’s the magic of a compelling hook – it makes your message stand out in the sea of information.
Visual Appeal Matters
So, what would you prefer? A paragraph explaining how to change a flat tire or a YouTube video of a person explaining step by step how to fix it? We know you went for the video because that’s just how we humans are wired. We are visual creatures who need something to look at in order to understand it. Whether it’s a jaw-dropping image, a design that pops, or a video that tells a story, visuals have the power to stop people in their tracks and say, “Hey, this looks interesting!”
Humans process visuals faster than text, and in the fast-paced digital world, catching eyes is like winning the first round of a staring contest. If you wear a good outfit, what happens? You walk into a room and people turn heads and girls compliment you for your style.
So, when you want to grab attention, think about how you can dress up your message. A striking visual can be the difference between blending into the background and standing in the spotlight. You don’t want to be flashy, you want to be the North Pole to the South so people can’t take their eyes off of what you’re offering.
Be Clear and Concise
Do you like it when you have to read through a complete blog just to find one little piece of information you were looking for? Or maybe you need to ask your boss for paid leave and they are zoning on and on about their trip to Bahamas recently. Nobody wants to hear long, boring, and unnecessary messages in any context.
Being clear and concise is the art of getting straight to the point. It’s like sending a text instead of writing a novel on the what, why, who, and when – be quick, easy, and right on target. Whether you’re talking to a friend, explaining a concept, or sharing information, keeping it short and sweet is the key to being heard and understood. Think of your message as a road sign. You want people to glance at it and instantly know where they’re headed. Avoid the detours and side streets of unnecessary details. Instead, make a direct path to your main point.
Tell a Story
We love stories. It’s in our DNA.
You’re standing at the office cooler (the unofficial spot for all the hot gossip of the office) and you get all the latest tea from your coworkers because they’re telling the story of the office Christmas party. That’s the power of storytelling – it’s like a magnetic force that pulls people in. So, when you want to grab attention, think of your message as a story waiting to unfold.
Sharing a story is like opening a door and inviting your audience into your world. A story makes a connection with people because they might find it a relatable situation or a personal experience that happened to them. It’s not just about information; it’s about emotion.
Telling a story gives you the reins to handle the attention span because if your storytelling skills are good, then you will have all the attention of your audience. But if your story lacks that oomph that makes it memorable and exciting, then you will only be talking to goldfishes at the end.
Stir Emotions
Think about your favorite movie – the one that made you laugh until your sides hurt, brought tears to your eyes, or had you cheering for the characters. Now, imagine if your message could bring out those same feelings. When you want to grab attention, aim to make people feel something – it’s the secret sauce to making your message unforgettable. You want people to feel something, anger, sadness, happiness, joy, excitement, nervousness, awe. Now it’s up to you how to bring out these emotions.
Once you stir these emotions from inside a person, you have their undivided attention. If you bring out anger, all their anger will be directed at you. If you bring out joy, then they will think about you or your service all day long.
Use Humor Wisely
You’re in a room full of people, and someone cracks a joke that has everyone bursting into laughter. That ripple of joy is like a magic wand, instantly breaking down barriers and creating connections. Humor, if and only if it’s used properly, can be a handshake extending to make friends. It’s not about being a stand-up comedian, but rather about making it just a tad bit witty so you have their attention in your hand.
Think about a time when someone made you laugh – it’s like a friendly wave that puts you at ease. When you want to grab attention, a well-timed joke or a clever play on words is your ticket to the spotlight. Humor makes the conversation light and approachable, so once you leave one joke, everyone starts giving their own knock-knock joke versions. Clever humor makes things more interesting. Have you ever been to standup comedy? People want to listen to the comedian very carefully so they don’t miss a joke or a reference.
Ask Questions
Questions are vacuums that pull us back into the real world whenever we start to zone out at any moment. Our attention span is kind of fixed and if you have attention span disorders, then things get even worse because it’s impossible to focus. This is why when you’re zoning out of the window of your class and your teacher asks you a question, you instantly snap out of it and now you have to answer what you don’t know.
So asking questions can help keep people on track by bringing back their attention to the real task at hand. For example, if you’re taking a Zoom meeting and you can see that your employees are obviously sleeping with eyes open, then ask questions from time to time so they know that they have to listen carefully or they will miss out.
