Smartphones blamed by over a third for worsening attention spans

The typical adult has an attention span of 17 minutes and 10 seconds, according to research.

A poll, of 2,000 adults, has revealed the average time people think they can concentrate on various different tasks.

People admit they can only keep focused during a conversation with their partner for 19 minutes and 17 seconds, but in a work meeting that drops to just 17 minutes and 36 seconds.

Sorting out finances can keep us occupied for 19 minutes and 49 seconds, and tasks at work for 20 minutes and 40 seconds.

Financial tasks were also likely to be put off or delayed because they’re seen as boring or difficult, with 14% of those polled delaying checking their pension, 14% reviewing their monthly budget, and 11% setting up a savings account.

More than a third (36%) said their attention span has worsened in recent years.

Nearly half (49%) of 18 to 24-year-olds say they lose focus on a task in under a minute, while only seven% of those aged 65 and older face this level of difficulty staying focused.

And 18% of the younger age group have put off checking their pension is on track – compared to just two% of over 65s.

Of those polled, 39% admit they feel compelled to check their phones when they lose interest in something. While 45% jump between tasks, and 42% let themselves daydream.

Commissioned by Nest, to coincide with the Pension Attention campaign, the study found 50% blame their limited attention span on being tired, while 40% said stress is a key factor.

Gavin Perera-Betts, chief customer officer for the workplace pension firm, said: “Constant notifications, social media, and instant access to information can impact our ability to concentrate for extended periods.

“However, it’s not just technology to blame – stress and fatigue also play a significant role. When we’re tired or stressed, we struggle to maintain concentration, making it even harder to stay focused on a single task.

“Even relatively simple but important tasks, like reviewing your budget or checking your pension is on track can be delayed due to a lack of attention.

“While we can’t take away all stress and fatigue, we can make checking your pension is on track simple and easy – there are three simple steps on our website you can follow.”

Of those whose attention span has worsened over time, 35% believe their smartphone is at fault for this. Half of these are making a conscious effort to listen to other people’s conversations, while 43% have tried to get more exercise in a bid to boost their mental endurance.

Gavin Perera-Betts from Nest, which has recently launched its mobile app to make it simpler to manage your pension, added: “Technology is deeply embedded in our daily lives – that’s why it’s crucial for technology to be designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind.

“Simple tech, like a mobile app, can make paying attention to important things like your pension, simple and straightforward.

“When tech is intuitive and less cluttered, it can reduce mental overload, helping users stay focused and preventing their minds from wandering.”