Easily distracted? Here's how to improve your attention span
Do you feel that you can't focus? That you'll never finish a book again? As if the only way to keep your mind and hands busy is to scroll on social media for hours?
You're far from alone. One body of decades-long research found the average person's attention span for a single screen is 47 seconds, down from 2.5 minutes in 2004. The 24/7 news cycle, uncertainty about the state of the world and countless hours of screen time don't help, experts say.
'When my patients talk to me about this stuff there is often a feeling of helplessness or powerlessness,' said Dr Michael Ziffra, a psychiatrist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. 'But you can change these behaviours. You can improve your attention span.'
Here are ways to start that process. As you read, challenge yourself to set a 2.5-minute timer and stay on this article without looking at another device or clicking away.
How did we lose focus?
A shifting attention is an evolutionary feature, not a bug. Our brains are hardwired to quickly filter information and home in on potential threats or changes in what's happening around us.
The things that grab our collective attentions has changed. For our ancestors, it might have been a rustle in the bushes, putting us on guard for a lurking tiger. Today, it could be a rash of breaking news alerts and phone notifications.
The COVID-19 pandemic warped many people's sense of time and increased their screen usage as never before, said Stacey Nye, a clinical psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Technology isn't the only influence on our attention, experts say, but the effects of those pinging notifications or hours scrolling through 30-second videos can accumulate.
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The Advertiser
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Sexual harassment and violence training for bar staff
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RSA training - mandatory for anyone who sells, serves or supplies liquor - will have updated materials to give workers a clearer understanding of the law, including differences between sexual harassment and sexual assault. Another recent revision updated guidance on drink spiking. Staff will also be trained in how to respond when patrons report harassment, violence, and suspected drink spiking, including on how to connect them with support services. Training for licensees has been updated to reflect employer obligations to prevent workplace sexual harassment. "It's important for us to engage with people where they live, learn, work, socialise and play, including the hospitality sector," Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said. "This training is one example of the work underway to change the beliefs and cultures that tolerate or condone violence." The state's Women's Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said the changes are an important step to making spaces safer and more respectful. "Everyone should feel confident that they'll be safe when they're socialising or working in a bar, club, restaurant or pub." Sydney's after-dark economy was damaged by restrictive and since-repealed lockout laws beginning in 2013 following violent one-punch deaths in nightlife precincts. The COVID-19 pandemic also severely impacted the hospitality sector, and changing residential demographics in some areas prompted noise and other complaints affecting venues. The state has established special entertainment precincts with extended trading hours and looser noise controls as part of "vibrancy reforms". People buying property in some areas will have to acknowledge the potential for noise in a bid to limit conflict between established venues and new neighbours. Enmore Road in the city's inner west was the first area declared a special entertainment precinct with the council considering additional areas. Further west, Burwood and Fairfield councils have received grants to begin a trial of precincts by the end of 2025. A regional trial is also planned in Byron Bay in the state's north. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Making venues safer for workers and patrons alike is part of efforts to reinvigorate a major city's ailing nightlife with mandates for venue staff to undergo training around sexual harassment and violence prevention. Training provided as part of Responsible Service of Alcohol accreditations follow several recent scandals engulfing major players in Sydney's hospitality industry and re-evaluation of its hard-partying reputation. The changes ensure workers are better equipped to care for customers and colleagues with ambitions to make the state a global gold-standard for nightlife and entertainment, NSW Night-Time Economy Minister John Graham said. "That only happens if our venues are safe, welcoming and respectful for everyone who walks through the door. "The updated RSA training course gives hospitality staff real-world tools and guidance needed to step in, defuse trouble and assist their patrons when it counts." RSA training - mandatory for anyone who sells, serves or supplies liquor - will have updated materials to give workers a clearer understanding of the law, including differences between sexual harassment and sexual assault. Another recent revision updated guidance on drink spiking. Staff will also be trained in how to respond when patrons report harassment, violence, and suspected drink spiking, including on how to connect them with support services. Training for licensees has been updated to reflect employer obligations to prevent workplace sexual harassment. "It's important for us to engage with people where they live, learn, work, socialise and play, including the hospitality sector," Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said. "This training is one example of the work underway to change the beliefs and cultures that tolerate or condone violence." The state's Women's Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said the changes are an important step to making spaces safer and more respectful. "Everyone should feel confident that they'll be safe when they're socialising or working in a bar, club, restaurant or pub." Sydney's after-dark economy was damaged by restrictive and since-repealed lockout laws beginning in 2013 following violent one-punch deaths in nightlife precincts. 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A regional trial is also planned in Byron Bay in the state's north. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Making venues safer for workers and patrons alike is part of efforts to reinvigorate a major city's ailing nightlife with mandates for venue staff to undergo training around sexual harassment and violence prevention. Training provided as part of Responsible Service of Alcohol accreditations follow several recent scandals engulfing major players in Sydney's hospitality industry and re-evaluation of its hard-partying reputation. The changes ensure workers are better equipped to care for customers and colleagues with ambitions to make the state a global gold-standard for nightlife and entertainment, NSW Night-Time Economy Minister John Graham said. "That only happens if our venues are safe, welcoming and respectful for everyone who walks through the door. "The updated RSA training course gives hospitality staff real-world tools and guidance needed to step in, defuse trouble and assist their patrons when it counts." RSA training - mandatory for anyone who sells, serves or supplies liquor - will have updated materials to give workers a clearer understanding of the law, including differences between sexual harassment and sexual assault. Another recent revision updated guidance on drink spiking. Staff will also be trained in how to respond when patrons report harassment, violence, and suspected drink spiking, including on how to connect them with support services. Training for licensees has been updated to reflect employer obligations to prevent workplace sexual harassment. "It's important for us to engage with people where they live, learn, work, socialise and play, including the hospitality sector," Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said. "This training is one example of the work underway to change the beliefs and cultures that tolerate or condone violence." The state's Women's Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said the changes are an important step to making spaces safer and more respectful. "Everyone should feel confident that they'll be safe when they're socialising or working in a bar, club, restaurant or pub." Sydney's after-dark economy was damaged by restrictive and since-repealed lockout laws beginning in 2013 following violent one-punch deaths in nightlife precincts. The COVID-19 pandemic also severely impacted the hospitality sector, and changing residential demographics in some areas prompted noise and other complaints affecting venues. The state has established special entertainment precincts with extended trading hours and looser noise controls as part of "vibrancy reforms". People buying property in some areas will have to acknowledge the potential for noise in a bid to limit conflict between established venues and new neighbours. Enmore Road in the city's inner west was the first area declared a special entertainment precinct with the council considering additional areas. Further west, Burwood and Fairfield councils have received grants to begin a trial of precincts by the end of 2025. A regional trial is also planned in Byron Bay in the state's north. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Making venues safer for workers and patrons alike is part of efforts to reinvigorate a major city's ailing nightlife with mandates for venue staff to undergo training around sexual harassment and violence prevention. Training provided as part of Responsible Service of Alcohol accreditations follow several recent scandals engulfing major players in Sydney's hospitality industry and re-evaluation of its hard-partying reputation. The changes ensure workers are better equipped to care for customers and colleagues with ambitions to make the state a global gold-standard for nightlife and entertainment, NSW Night-Time Economy Minister John Graham said. "That only happens if our venues are safe, welcoming and respectful for everyone who walks through the door. "The updated RSA training course gives hospitality staff real-world tools and guidance needed to step in, defuse trouble and assist their patrons when it counts." RSA training - mandatory for anyone who sells, serves or supplies liquor - will have updated materials to give workers a clearer understanding of the law, including differences between sexual harassment and sexual assault. Another recent revision updated guidance on drink spiking. Staff will also be trained in how to respond when patrons report harassment, violence, and suspected drink spiking, including on how to connect them with support services. Training for licensees has been updated to reflect employer obligations to prevent workplace sexual harassment. "It's important for us to engage with people where they live, learn, work, socialise and play, including the hospitality sector," Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said. "This training is one example of the work underway to change the beliefs and cultures that tolerate or condone violence." The state's Women's Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said the changes are an important step to making spaces safer and more respectful. "Everyone should feel confident that they'll be safe when they're socialising or working in a bar, club, restaurant or pub." Sydney's after-dark economy was damaged by restrictive and since-repealed lockout laws beginning in 2013 following violent one-punch deaths in nightlife precincts. The COVID-19 pandemic also severely impacted the hospitality sector, and changing residential demographics in some areas prompted noise and other complaints affecting venues. The state has established special entertainment precincts with extended trading hours and looser noise controls as part of "vibrancy reforms". People buying property in some areas will have to acknowledge the potential for noise in a bid to limit conflict between established venues and new neighbours. Enmore Road in the city's inner west was the first area declared a special entertainment precinct with the council considering additional areas. Further west, Burwood and Fairfield councils have received grants to begin a trial of precincts by the end of 2025. 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Sexual harassment and violence training for bar staff
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Sexual harassment and violence training for bar staff
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