Attention spans have dropped by two-thirds in the past 20 years. Here’s how to reclaim yours

# Why You Can't Focus Anymore—And What Schools Are Doing About It Our ability to concentrate has nosedived over the past two decades: people now focus on a single task for less than a minute on average, down from about two and a half minutes in 2004. Schools that have banned cell phones are seeing real results, with test scores improving and students able to stay focused for longer periods. While phone restrictions work in classrooms, experts warn that adults in the real world face an even bigger challenge, since we can't simply eliminate our devices—and our attention spans will likely keep getting worse unless we take action.