Written by: Ms. Azraa

Corrected by: Mr. Han

Designed and Uploaded by: Leona

    Picture this: it’s Sunday. You’re scrolling through TikTok, and you’ve been at it for two hours, watching hundreds of funny videos. So, you start thinking, well, maybe you could use the same two hours to read the novel that you’ve been dying to read. Five minutes into the main character’s introduction, you’re enjoying it so far. Yet in 10 minutes, you start slouching on the sofa. Your eyes get sleepy, and eventually, you close the book and return to scrolling social media to watch 10-second funny videos for hours.

    Does this often happen to you? If the answer is yes, you might have a condition called “short attention span.” A short attention span occurs when you find it difficult to concentrate on tasks for an extended period because you are easily distracted. It is known that ADHD, stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, and other general health issues are common causes of a short attention span. However, the huge increase in people with short attention spans is mainly due to a brand-new reason.

    Famous amongst Gen-Zs and Gen Alphas nowadays, it is, which you might have guessed, the short, flashy video content on various social media like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, etc. This massive digitalization era has led younger generations to integrate technology into their daily lives, turning them into the most tech-savvy generations. But this also has a downside, which is the exposure of youngsters to short video content on social media. While these quick bursts of content can be entertaining and informative, consuming them excessively can affect and reshape cognitive functions such as our attention span. As a result, we struggle and even show disinterest in activities that need longer attention.

    Consequently, a short attention span has become a major concern for us to tackle, as we'd rather not have a whole generation struggling while doing basic tasks on a daily basis. So, how should we solve this problem? Fear not, because we have just the right solutions for you. Here are some tips you can follow to fix and lengthen your attention span:

• Set usage limits for your social media

    When doing long-form tasks that require sustained attention, it is inevitable for people with short attention spans to get easily distracted and want to open their social media instead. To prevent this, you can set limits for your social media usage. Make sure to not use it for more than one or two hours per day. If you want to keep entertained, you can simply seek some entertainment from fun activities that don't require you to open social media, such as painting, playing musical instruments, baking, or even exercising!

• Practice meditation

    Meditation can be helpful for enhancing attention span and concentration as it allows us to redirect our focus to the present and let us practice to savor the moment. You can start with very brief sessions, even just a few minutes, and gradually increase the time as you get comfortable. Don't forget to focus on exhaling and inhaling!

• Try to read books

    While media consumption is still very important for humans to stay informed and entertained, it is suggested that we consume media that doesn't require a screen sometimes. One of them is reading books. Instead of scrolling through social media mindlessly in your free time, try to pick up a book that you like. If you struggle to read the book and have the urge to pick up your phone, try to set a five-minute timer and force yourself to read for that amount of time. You can increase the time gradually. The next day, set it to 10 minutes, then 15 minutes, and so on. Eventually, you won't feel the urge to pick up your phone while reading anymore.

• Engage with long-form content

    Consider engaging with longer form content such as movies when consuming screen-based media. Watching a long movie can be a meaningful strategy to gradually lengthen your short attention span, since it forces you to focus on a single narrative for an extended period of time. Nonetheless, it's also important to actively engage with the film and minimize distractions to maximize the experience. Try to enjoy the film while you put your phone somewhere unreachable. And most importantly, be sure that you pick the right genre. If you find romance or historical movies boring, then you can try watching comedies that will make you laugh all the time or fast-paced action movies that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

    Bear in mind that you won’t get instant results! To reach your goal of having a longer attention span, consistency is the key. Try our tips constantly, get yourself used to it by making it a routine, and in no time, you will find yourself maintaining your focus better. Good luck!