The average person’s attention span has fallen to just 47 seconds.
That’s according to recent studies examining the effects of constant digital stimulation — what tech researcher David M. Levy refers to as “popcorn brain,” a condition where minds jump rapidly from one input to another without rest or resolution.
The shift isn’t simply a cultural trend. It’s a neurological response to an environment that no longer offers quiet.
In the last two decades, the human brain has had to adapt to an unprecedented volume of information. Social media, endless notifications, breaking news alerts and streaming content have collectively trained people to expect constant engagement. The result is a sense of mental exhaustion, difficulty concentrating and a lingering feeling of disconnection. This isn’t a failure of discipline. It’s the natural consequence of living in a system designed to keep people overstimulated.
Neuroscientists refer to the impact as “directed attention fatigue,” which occurs when the brain’s ability to filter out distractions is overused. Over time, that overuse reduces cognitive control, drains mental energy and leaves people vulnerable to stress and anxiety. For individuals with ADHD, the effects are especially pronounced.
According to Verywell Mind, overstimulation can present as irritability, restlessness and even emotional shutdown. The symptoms aren’t just psychological — they’re physiological.
None of this is accidental. Society operates within what researchers call an “attention economy,” where companies profit by competing for users’ focus. Platforms like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok use predictive algorithms to ensure there’s always something new to watch. As a result, attention — once a finite and deeply human asset — has become a commodity.
Jenny Odell, author of How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy, argues that disengaging from these platforms is not about rejecting technology but reclaiming autonomy.
“Attention is the beginning of devotion,” she explains.
Choosing where to direct mental focus shapes not only habits but also values. And for people of faith, that has spiritual implications.
Christian spirituality has long emphasized the disciplines of stillness, reflection and prayer. In a culture of constant stimulation, those practices are not just devotional — they’re countercultural. Reclaiming attention isn’t only a matter of personal wellness. It’s a way of creating space to hear God.
There are practical ways to begin. Setting limits on screen time, designating tech-free areas in the home and introducing moments of intentional silence throughout the day can help the brain reset. Short breaks from digital input — even 10 minutes without a device — allow the mind to recover. More importantly, those rhythms create space to be fully present in ways that digital life does not permit.
Spiritual disciplines offer additional grounding. Prayer, Scripture reading and silence are not just good habits. They are ways of training attention toward something lasting. In a world designed to fragment thoughts, these practices offer cohesion, clarity and peace.
Overstimulation is not a sign of weakness. It is a signal. The mind is not meant to function under constant strain, and the soul was never designed to compete with an algorithm. Learning to reclaim attention is not simply about getting more done. It’s about becoming more fully alive — and more fully aware of the presence of God in the ordinary moments we’re often too distracted to notice.
If your mind feels like it’s never at rest, it’s because rest is no longer built into the system. But it is available — if you are willing to reach for it.
