Shrinking Attention Span is a Good Thing

Lack of Patience Means We Are Unsatisfied with Old Ineffective Methods

In 2015, a Microsoft study made headlines: the average human attention span had dropped to 8 seconds, shorter than a goldfish’s 9 seconds. This stat often gets framed as a sign of a distracted, tech-obsessed culture. But maybe we’ve been looking at it wrong. Maybe a shrinking attention span isn’t a flaw—it’s a sign we’re done putting up with slow, clunky methods.

This article takes a different stance. Our lack of patience signals a drive to find better, faster ways of doing things. We’ll look at the usual complaints about short attention spans, dig into the evolutionary upside of our restless minds, share real examples of how impatience sparked progress, and end with a practical take on how to make the most of it.

The Problem with Shrinking Attention Spans in a Digital Age

The usual story goes like this: We're too distracted to focus. Platforms like TikTok, with its bite-sized videos, train us to crave instant rewards. Instead of reading long-form content, we skim headlines or scroll X for hot takes. Notifications pull us away. Apps compete for our attention. Multitasking is the default.

And the concerns are real. Deep focus takes a hit when distractions are constant. Reading a 300-page novel feels harder compared to bingeing Netflix or doomscrolling. Critics say this erosion weakens critical thinking and productivity, and makes it harder to stick with long-term projects.

But that’s only half the story. To get the full picture, we need to ask: why are our attention spans shrinking—and could there actually be an upside?

The Other Side of Hedonic Adaptation

Humans are wired to chase novelty. Our ancestors had to seek out new resources and adapt fast to survive. Psychologists call this tendency hedonic adaptation: we get used to pleasures quickly and start looking for the next thing.

In today's world, that wiring is in overdrive. Viral TikToks feel stale after a few days. New apps get old in weeks.

This craving for novelty can clash with long-term projects. Writing a book, building a business, or mastering a skill takes years of patience—something our brains aren't naturally built for. But there’s a bright side: our impatience isn’t about laziness. It’s a rejection of inefficiency. We no longer have patience for slow methods or average results. Hedonic adaptation forces us to demand better—faster tools, smarter solutions, more engaging experiences.

It’s not a bug. It’s a feature.

My Story of Getting Over Perfectionism

I’ve lived this shift myself. For years, I was stuck in perfectionism and what I call “tutorial hell.” I'd buy online courses—coding, writing, design—trying to master every detail before starting anything. I’d spend hours watching, taking notes, trying to find the perfect solution to avoid mistakes.

The result? I barely started anything. I was stuck. Progress crawled.

Then my shrinking patience kicked in. I got fed up with 30-hour courses that dragged out basic concepts. I started experimenting instead—building small projects, testing ideas, and learning by doing. Everything changed. I wrote code faster, solved problems quicker, and actually finished things. My impatience forced me to prioritize action over endless preparation.

The same thing happened with writing my novel. I used to watch endless tutorials on story structure, character arcs, and world-building, terrified to mess up a first draft. But my lack of patience pushed me to act. I wrote a messy draft and embraced the flaws. I iterated based on feedback instead of getting stuck trying to perfect it upfront.

AI tools helped too. Instead of spending hours checking grammar rules or pacing guides, I’d ask an AI for quick targeted help—saving time for real writing.

This shift wasn’t about cutting corners. It was about rejecting inefficiency. A restless mind demanded better ways to create—and it worked.

Finding the Good in Every Human Behavior

Every human behavior has upsides and downsides. A shrinking attention span scatters focus, but it also pushes innovation. It’s not about whether it's “good” or “bad”—it's about how we use it.

Impatience can pull us into distraction. Or it can drive us to ditch outdated methods and find better ones. It’s a tool. How we use it matters.

Instead of complaining about short attention spans, we can lean into them. Filter out noise. Prioritize what matters. Combine impatience with discipline to tackle big goals without getting trapped in perfectionism.

Modern tools like AI can help too, letting us skip the tedious parts and focus on real work.

Our restless brains aren't a problem. They're proof we’re wired to adapt and demand more. We should use that—not fight it—to build a faster, smarter, more creative world.