Smartphones accused by more than a third of worsening attention span

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

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

People admit that they can only stay 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 busy for 19 minutes and 49 seconds, and tasks at work for 20 minutes and 40 seconds.

Financial tasks are also likely to be put off or delayed because they are considered boring or difficult, with 14% of respondents putting off checking their pension, 14% reviewing their monthly budget and 11% setting up a savings account saving

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

Almost half (49%) of 18-24-year-olds say they lose focus on a task in less than a minute, while only seven% of those aged 65 and over face this level of difficulty stay focused

And 18% of the youngest age group have put off checking their pension, compared to just 2% of over-65s.

Of those surveyed, 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, coinciding with the Care for Pensions campaign, the study found that 50% blame their limited attention span on fatigue, while 40% said stress is a key factor .

Gavin Perera-Betts, client director at the workplace pensions company, said: “Constant notifications, social media and instant access to information can affect our ability to concentrate for extended periods.

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

“Even relatively simple but important tasks, such as reviewing your budget or checking your pension is up and running, can be delayed by inattention.

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

Of those whose attention has worsened over time, 35% believe their smartphone is to blame. Half of these are making a conscious effort to listen to other people’s conversations, while 43% have tried to exercise more to increase their mental stamina.

Nest’s Gavin Perera-Betts, which recently launched its mobile app to make managing your pension easier, added: “Technology is deeply embedded in our daily lives, so it’s crucial that technology is designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind.

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

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