Attention Span

by Gloria Mark

Why I picked it up

I picked this book up because I was finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate, especially later in the day. I wanted to better understand what was happening to my attention - and whether there were practical ways to protect it.

My thoughts

Attention Span helped me understand that distraction isn’t simply a matter of lacking discipline. Our attention is affected by our environment, our technology, our energy levels and the constant expectation that we should be available and responsive.

I was especially struck by the effects of task switching. Moving quickly between emails, messages, notifications and work may feel productive, but every switch uses mental energy and makes it harder to settle back into meaningful work. Even when no one else interrupts us, we often interrupt ourselves because our brains have become accustomed to looking for the next new thing.

The book also made me think differently about concentration throughout the day. Our attention naturally changes with our energy, and we can’t expect ourselves to maintain perfect focus indefinitely. Rest and lighter periods of attention aren’t wasted time - they help replenish the mental resources we need for more demanding work.

My biggest takeaway

My biggest takeaway is that if I want sustained focus for deep work…and I do…I have to be intentional about limiting distractions. Otherwise, they will happily hijack my attention all day. That means creating boundaries around email and notifications, reducing unnecessary task switching and making dedicated space for the work that requires my full brain.

Who I’d recommend it to

A valuable read for anyone who has ever reached the end of a busy day and wondered why they were constantly occupied but still struggled to complete the work that mattered most.

Interested in reading it?

Find Attention Span through Books on Main, an awesome independent bookstore in Bath, Ontario.