Rebecca Manzi Attention spans are shrinking to just 8 seconds due to stress, poor sleep, and modern multitasking. A study explores how these trends are affecting mental health and everyday life.
@Photo By: Kaboompics.com/Pexels
It’s not just Gen Z. According to a recent study from Ohio State University, the average human attention span has dropped to just eight seconds. That’s less time than it takes to read this sentence — and significantly less than what was typical only a few decades ago. The culprit? Not only smartphones, as many would assume, but a much broader and more insidious mix of stress, anxiety, and modern lifestyle overload.
This isn’t just about people zoning out during Zoom meetings or scrolling mindlessly through TikTok. The issue, researchers suggest, is deeply social. We are overwhelmed. And that constant pressure is fraying the very fabric of our ability to focus.
More than screens: the real causes of distraction
Contrary to popular belief, digital devices aren’t the main villains. In fact, they rank third on the list of top attention killers. The study found that stress and anxiety are responsible for attention problems in 43% of respondents, followed by lack of sleep at 39%, with smartphones and other digital distractions affecting 35%.
It’s not hard to imagine why. Between deadlines, financial pressures, the always-on culture, and doomscrolling news cycles, people are simply maxed out. Add to that a cocktail of boredom, disinterest, multitasking, poor diet, and lack of physical activity, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for mental fragmentation. Only one in four people said they had no issues with attention — a striking figure in a world that expects us to be alert and responsive at all times.
The multitasking myth and the speed trap
Multitasking might seem like a superpower, but research increasingly shows it’s more of a silent saboteur. What we call “efficiency” often comes at the cost of deep focus and mental presence. Today’s hyper-paced environment bombards us with constant input, pushing our attention to flit from one task to another.
In the last 25 years, the average concentration span has shrunk by a third. Tasks that once held our focus for over eight seconds now struggle to keep us engaged for even a few. The consequences aren’t just workplace mistakes — they bleed into personal life, relationships, and even how we experience pleasure and downtime.
Mental health is paying the price
Reduced attention span doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It often accompanies — and worsens — issues like mental fatigue, emotional burnout, and even depression.
“Chronic stress and anxiety not only compromise concentration, but also have a negative impact on overall well-being.” In other words, this isn’t just a matter of being distracted — it’s about the long-term toll on our mental health and quality of life.
The researchers highlight a crucial point: recognizing when to stop. Taking breaks, stepping away, and accepting that maximum productivity isn’t always sustainable are no longer luxuries — they’re essential tools for mental survival.
Reclaiming our minds
Perhaps the most worrying aspect of this phenomenon is its universality. Attention problems are no longer confined to the young, the tech-addicted, or the overworked. They’re spreading across all ages and social groups, becoming a modern epidemic.
The path forward? There’s no single solution. But the study suggests we must find better strategies for managing stress, improving sleep quality, and reducing our dependence on constant stimulation. That might mean turning off notifications, yes — but it also means rethinking how we live, how we work, and how we take care of ourselves.
Because if we don’t start paying attention to our attention, we might just lose it for good.
