The Liz Moody Podcast Top Attention Researcher: Our Attention Spans Are Down To 47 Seconds! Here’s How To Fix It
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Mar 12, 2025 
Dr. Gloria Mark, a psychologist and attention expert, reveals that our attention spans have plummeted to just 47 seconds thanks to technology. She discusses how social media hijacks focus, the stress of constant digital communication, and the myths surrounding multitasking. Dr. Mark offers practical tips for improving attention through mindful engagement, stress relief, and developing daily awareness. Learn why in-person interactions are more fulfilling and how understanding our cognitive rhythms can boost productivity and mental well-being.
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Dimensions of Attention
- Two dimensions of attention are engagement and challenge.
- Focused attention (high engagement, high challenge) can create stress, while rote attention (high engagement, low challenge) can increase happiness.
The Multitasking Myth
- Multitasking involves switching attention, not doing two things simultaneously.
- Each switch requires reorientation, causing stress accumulation.
Email and Stress
- Email causes stress and negative emotions because it represents work and creates an imbalance between sender and receiver.
- The continuous nature of email adds to this stress.
