Studies show that the average attention span is now only eight seconds. That's about as much time as it takes to read a few sentences before being distracted.

Studies show that the average attention span is now only eight seconds. That’s about as much time as it takes to read a few sentences before being distracted.

A new national survey of 1,000 American adults commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine finds that stress and anxiety contribute most to a short attention span (43%), followed by lack of sleep (39%) and digital devices (35%).

Other contributing factors include boredom or lack of interest (31%); multitasking (23%); lack of physical activity (21%); poor diet/hydration (20%) and medical conditions such as ADHD (18%).

Only 25% of survey respondents said they don’t have trouble with their attention span.