Top Attention Researcher: Our Attention Spans Are Down To 47 Seconds! Here’s How To Fix It

The Liz Moody Podcast

Liz Moody

Health & Fitness, Self-improvement, Education, Mental Health

4.8 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 12 March 2025

⏱️ 95 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Are our attention spans really shrinking because of social media, or is that a myth? Psychologist and attention expert Dr. Gloria Mark discusses the newest research on our attention spans, how attention interacts with technology and stress, and ways we can begin to heal our attention spans. We learn exactly how our attention spans have shifted over the last two decades by understanding how attention works on a scientific level and the different types of attention. Dr. Mark gives her top tips on developing awareness and managing your focus to improve your productivity and mental wellbeing. 0:11 Have Attention Spans Decreased? 3:45 Media Multitasking 9:08 How Social Media Hijacks Our Attention 16:40 In-Person Vs Zoom Meetings 26:19 Why Does Everything Feel Boring? 30:55 Stress & Your Attention Span 36:20 The Multitasking Myth 45:12 Why Do We Check Our Emails Compulsively? 56:09 Developing Daily Awareness 1:04:30 Attention Spans Through The Week For more from Dr. Mark, find her online at www.gloriamark.com or on LinkedIn. Pick up a copy of her book, Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity, where books are sold. Ready to uplevel every part of your life? Order Liz’s book 100 Ways to Change Your Life: The Science of Leveling Up Health, Happiness, Relationships & Success now! To join The Liz Moody Podcast Club Facebook group, go to www.facebook.com/groups/thelizmoodypodcast. Connect with Liz on Instagram @lizmoody or online at www.lizmoody.com. Subscribe to the substack by visiting https://lizmoody.substack.com/welcome. This episode is sponsored by: Pique: go to piquelife.com/LIZMOODY for up to 20% off plus a special gift. Wildgrain: go to Wildgrain.com/LIZMOODY for $30 off the first box - PLUS a free item in every box. Osmia Skincare: use code LIZMOODY2025 for 20% off at osmiaskincare.com. Great Lakes Wellness: use code LIZMOODY for 25% off your first purchase at greatlakeswellness.com. The Liz Moody Podcast cover art by Zack. The Liz Moody Podcast music by Alex Ruimy. Formerly the Healthier Together Podcast. This podcast and website represents the opinions of Liz Moody and her guests to the show. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for information purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. The Liz Moody Podcast Episode 311. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Dr. Mark, welcome to the podcast. Have our attention spans decreased in a researched way over the last 10 to 20 years, or is that something we're all just imagining and feeling?
0:08.7	There is some neuroscience research that suggests that our brain structures are changing.
0:15.5	We tend to think of there being two states of attention. You're focused and you're not focused. It's actually more
0:22.3	nuanced than that. Two dimensions of attention that are really important are how engaged we are
0:29.3	and how challenged we are. Why does tech feel so much more addicting than anything in my real life?
0:35.4	Hello, friends, and welcome to the Liz Moody podcast where every week we're sharing
0:39.4	real science, real stories, and realistic tools that actually level up every part of your
0:44.0	life.
0:44.7	I'm your host, Liz Moody, and I'm a best-selling author and longtime journalist.
0:48.9	You guys have been asking me to do an episode on attention and focus forever, And it took me some time to find the perfect
0:56.9	guest. But today, I am so excited to welcome Dr. Gloria Mark to the podcast. Dr. Mark has a PhD
1:03.8	from Columbia University. She is currently a professor at UC Irvine, where she researches all
1:09.5	things attention. She's published over 200 articles,
1:13.4	and she's the author of the best-selling book, Attention Span, a groundbreaking way to restore balance
1:20.1	happiness and productivity. And today, she's going to teach us why our attention spans are so messed up,
1:26.9	how technology is impacting our
1:29.0	brains, and exactly how we can fix it. There's a lot of information in this episode. So if you
1:34.4	want some key takeaways when you're done listening, head over to our sparkly new newsletter
1:39.0	on lizmoody.substack.com. It's going to have action steps for every single episode as well as bonus
1:46.2	interviews, meal plans, workout plans, and more. Dr. Mark, welcome to the podcast. Thank you for having
1:51.7	I'm so excited to have you here. Attention span is something that we're all struggling with so much.
1:57.6	So let's just kick it off. Have our attention spans decreased in a researched way
	...

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