If you’re looking to fix your attention span, you’re not alone! Many people are finding their attention span too short for comfort these days. It might be a struggle to focus on a book you’re reading, watch a full movie, or even follow a conversation for very long. Attention span also affects how quickly our minds move and change subjects.
When your attention span is short, your brain switches topics more quickly.
You may have a lot more thoughts that feel scattered and hard to keep track of. Your brain might feel more “messy,” or “too chatty.” This constant, quick change can be stressful and annoying. You might also find yourself dreaming in a way that feels more disorganized and confusing. A shortened and scattered attention span can be the result of current social media trends, as well as having a sense of chaos in everyday life.
Social media relies on feeding you a constant stream of short-form content. You can curate and customize your algorithm, but you’re still not in complete control of what you see. If your phone is off mute, you’re also not in control of what you hear. If you aren’t interested in what you’re looking at, you simply scroll to the next piece of short-form content. And the more you doomscroll? The more your brain learns to process thoughts and ideas in short, disconnected clips. After all, if this is the world you’re facing and living in, it’s good to be able to keep thinking fast paced and scattered.
The same goes for when life is generally chaotic. Whether you’re experiencing a series of stressful events in your personal life or chaos and constant tragedies on a larger scale, your brain learns to adapt.You’ll likely find your own thinking quick, intense, and focused on problems.
Brains adjust according to input, to help you survive your circumstances.
This adjustment can help keep you on your toes and vigilant if your environment is dangerous. But it can feel like too much, especially if the adjustment is not balanced for enjoying the life you’d like to have. What good is a peaceful moment, if your mind is still racing and scattered? Thankfully, the brain can learn to slow back down and stick with a thought for longer.
Train your brain back with longer form content.
If you put longer form input into your brain, your brain will adapt and adjust for it. It’s ok if you can’t sit and read a book right now or watch a 10-minute video instead of a 10-second clip. Try something in between! Find an interesting article, a webcomic, or videos that are just a little longer than what you’re used to now. Then work your way up.
The concept is simple but doing it might be tough. You’re literally training your neurons to fire in different ways than what you’ve gotten used to. Take your time, do what you can, and you should find your mind starting to slow down and stick with ideas longer. If you’d like support along the way and would like to work with me, click here to reach out.
Dr. Stephanie Bloodworth, PsyD, LMFT-S