Introduction
Focus: full concentration on a current task. For some people, focus means being able to play a few rounds of their favorite game before starting their homework. To others, it means working in a quiet place. Some people have to have limits on their social media to focus. A lot of people feel that their ability to focus relies on whether they have had caffeine or not. Many people define focus differently. In recent years, the focus of students has gone askew, leading to questions about Gen Z’s attention spans and academic motivation. People often fail to recognize how crucial a factor focus is to academic schooling, not only in studying but also in lecturing. This article will explore factors impacting the attention spans of students and tips to increase focus in school and studying.
Gen Z Attention Span
With the release of the first iPhone back in 2007 came a new wave of electronics. In just three years came a new decade: the 2010s, now characterized by the takeover of social media platforms. In the 2010s, social media consumed lives, appealing to people as bright-colored icons lived on people’s home screens, making it even easier to receive news alerts and tune in to other people’s lives.
The shift was noticeable for those alive before technology. Firsthand, people witnessed the rise of technology. Cell phones became essential storage units of all kinds of personal contacts and information; nobody could go anywhere without them. Worded well by Noah Smith, “15 years ago, the internet was an escape from the real world. Now, the real world is an escape from the internet”. The internet has become even more accessible to all generations. People’s lives blended into the new technology; it consumed us. As time continued on, cell phone usage and social media became such a standard practice to all people across the world that few realized the impact a world of technology had on new generations and growing children.
Children born in the late 2000s were the first of a whole new generation born under the reign of technology and social media. For decades, children have indulged in television shows and cartoons for unhealthy amounts of time. Yet the new technology of tablets and phones that children began to use for entertainment has proven to be even more harmful to young kids, as hand-held entertainment devices have a harsh blue light. For teenagers, the rise of streaming services has encouraged “binge-watching,” or streaming seasons of shows, further encouraging sedentary lifestyles.
And so, the direct results of childhoods filled with social media and technology now correspond to low attention spans in the rising generations. Low attention span is attributed to the “constant exposure to digital content and [use] of multiple screens” (Keystone Education Group).
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Gaining the attention of a young person has become significantly harder now as their attention spans can be very short. Researchers have attributed a term to this low attention span of Gen Z, calling it “the first 8 seconds”.
“The first 8 seconds” describes the average attention span of people in Gen Z. Just 8 seconds. 8 seconds is all advertisers and influencers alike on social media have to inform and catch the attention of their young viewers before they lose interest and scroll to the next video. Especially with the rise of new social media platforms such as TikTok (and other platforms like Instagram and YouTube adopting similar “reel” formats), if a video doesn’t engage enough of their interest, it will just be scrolled past in a matter of seconds.
How does this relate to academics?
Now, you may be wondering exactly how the attention spans of Gen Z affect academics. Well, just as advertisers strive to capture the attention of younger viewers on social media, educators need the attention and focus of students in their classrooms. Applying “the first 8 seconds” rule becomes much harder in a classroom setting when students must be focused and engaged for a 45-minute class period.
Even though 6-hour school days have always been the standard, in recent years, more criticism has arisen for this format of education. With this new world, it is becoming harder for students to fully engage and participate in classes that stream tons of new information back to back. Many students rally for breaks in between classes. Yet a change in the current format of school doesn’t seem to be changing anytime in the near future, so students must find new ways to focus in school and in their studies.
After constantly being engaged in videos and apps all weekend, returning to school on Mondays can be challenging, adjusting back to 6-hour school days with a little break between classes. Technology mainly becomes a distraction during independent studying, when it becomes a challenge to resist using your phone. Resources have shared that while technology can be an issue in school, it isn’t the leading cause of student’s low attention spans.
Factors of the amount of sleep, mental health, and distractions have also been shown to impact the focus ability of individual students (Elizabeth Valley).
How to increase focus in school and studying:
- Eliminating Distractions
Mentioned above, many students struggle to focus when studying because of the temptations and distractions offered by phones. If you try to make a point not to bring your phone into the room where you are studying or doing homework, you may find it easier to focus. It may also be beneficial to change your phone settings only to allow certain notifications to appear on your home screen when studying.
- Finding a Quiet Workplace
Even if you are motivated and ready to start your work, if your work environment is loud, it may be hard for you to focus and lock in. I recommend finding a place to work that you designate to just homework. It can just be a quiet room in your house, but if that doesn’t work, you can try to find local libraries and coffee shops that work for you.
- Finding Friends that Motivate You
If you find yourself a victim of procrastination and can’t fully push yourself to start studying, I recommend finding a friend to study with you. Studying with a friend (at a quiet workplace like #2 suggests) can increase your productivity as it holds you accountable to doing your work. You and your friend can help each other with problems you get stuck on and use each other to study.
- Setting Goals and Rewards
Sometimes, it can be really hard to start studying or doing work. If you know beforehand that it is going to be brutal work and take you a while, you likely are going to push off doing it. But if you set small goals, like studying just for 15-minute intervals, you may find it easier to jumpstart your work. It’s also important to reward yourself for academic accomplishments; it can help you avoid burnout. Things like getting a fun drink or ordering something online you’ve been wanting can help you feel more accomplished in your hard work.
- Planning Out Your Academics
Planning out your school work and when to study is crucial. The first thought for many people when I say this is to get a planner. A planner is definitely helpful for a lot of people, but planning schoolwork means more than just writing down when assignments are due. It is vital to put in your mind when assignments are due in relation to the current day of the week to help you find out when to do them. Just because something is assigned, it shouldn’t automatically become the most important. Find ways to prioritize assignments and allocate your time to whatever homework and classes need the most time. It is also important to take note of tests when they are announced. If you have a free day a while before the test, but know you’ll be very busy on days right before the test, try to get a jump start on studying by creating a study guide or flashcards. This way, you can actively review on days you are busy, and it will only take a few minutes. Allocating time for your school work will make you a better student AND create a nice balance between your school and personal life (which is essential!!).
- Taking Breaks
School is very draining. You wake up early to get ready, go to school tired, finish school, and likely go to a sports practice or extracurricular just to come home to a few more hours of homework. You always wind up going to bed late because late hours are the only time you have to go on your phone after all your homework. The worst part is that it can feel like an endless cycle. That is why it is so important to take breaks. Going hand in hand with #5, planning time for academics will give you more time for yourself. Separating school and personal activities is very important. Taking breaks doesn’t have just to mean going on your phone in between studying. If you plan out when you will complete assignments, you will have more time to focus on yourself by getting exercise or even just tuning in to your favorite show once a week.
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