The Attention Comeback

Rediscovering focus in a world of reels, memes, and digital noise.

The average social media user spends between 2 and 15 seconds on any given post—including reels (short-form video content).

If a post grabs their interest, the user’s attention span may stretch from 10 seconds to one minute, reels included.

But ask yourself:

• Do things feel like they’re moving too fast?

• Have you already forgotten what the last post said before scrolling to the next?

• Are they all jumbled in your brain—product names, meme subjects, platforms—blurring together?

And what happens when you try to read a book or article?

• Do you lose the train of thought after 30 seconds?

• Lose your place in the book?

• Find yourself pinching the page like it’s an iPad screen?

Popcorn Brain

You’re not alone. You’re experiencing “popcorn brain”—a shortened attention span caused by excessive social media use.

Symptoms may include:

• Reduced attention span

• Difficulty concentrating on tasks for extended periods

• A constant need for stimulation

• Restlessness when not engaged with digital media

• Challenges in managing time effectively due to frequent distractions

How to Extend Your Attention Span

You can fight back. You can read an entire chapter in a book—or an article in a newspaper or magazine.

How?

By reading.

Yes, reading itself is the remedy. This is not a contradiction. The key lies in techniques honed by people with ADHD—and the researchers who study them.

Step One: Follow Your Interests

Start slowly. Don’t reach for Bleak House or that dusty copy of Moby-Dick. Let those sit on the shelf a little longer.

Instead, choose something you’re genuinely curious about:

• Do you like sports? Read about your favorite team.

• Enjoy cooking? Try a cookbook instead of Instagram or Facebook recipes.

• Love to travel? Pick a book set in a place you’d like to visit.

Step Two: Revert to Childhood

Alternatively—or additionally—try a children’s book geared for 4th grade or slightly higher. These books feature short chapters and clear, engaging language.

Some suggestions:

• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

• A Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

• Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

• Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Need more ideas? Search for “easy books for 4th, 5th, or 6th graders.”

Step Three: Audiobooks

“Some argue that audiobooks don’t count as reading, and they are entitled to their horribly wrong opinions.”

Whether you agree or not, audiobooks can help increase your attention span. Even better: pair the audiobook with a physical copy. Reading while listening reinforces focus and comprehension.

Step Four: Drop Everything And Read

Set aside time each day or evening to read—and start small. Do you remember Drop Everything and Read from your elementary school days?

• On Day One, read for just 3-5 minutes without stopping.

• Increase your reading time by 2–3 minutes every 2–3 days.

• Aim for 20–30 minutes a day.

Don’t be discouraged if it takes weeks to reach that goal. At the same time, reduce your screen time by the same amount. You may feel withdrawal—but persistence pays off.

Let books teach you what you want to learn. Let them take you places you’d like to visit. Let them help you relive the experience of childhood.

Your attention span isn’t lost forever—it’s just been redirected by the electronic power of your devices. Finding it doesn’t require any guilt or huge commitments. It starts with a page, a pause, and some persistence. Let reading be your sound-canceling blanket against the noise.

Author’s Note:

If you read this whole thing without checking your phone, congratulations—you’ve already started on your path to reclaiming your attention span. If you didn’t, no judgment, just try again tomorrow. The books won’t spoil.

P. S. Don’t forget that books from your local library are free. Find your local library here: Library finder