The Endurance Gap: Why Focusing on Focus Isn’t Enough

In an era where attention spans have dwindled to almost nothing, the concept of “cognitive endurance” has gained traction as a potential antidote to our collective distraction. Proponents argue that building this mental capacity can improve everything from athletic performance to work productivity and overall well-being.

The statistics on attention span are grim: between 2004 and 2016, the average attention span dropped by nearly 70 percent, from 2½ minutes to about 47 seconds. This atrophy of attention has had a ripple effect, impacting mental performance, stress levels, and physical performance. The decline in attention span is not solely due to over-reliance on technology; there are underlying factors at play.

Behavioral scientists Heather Schofield and Supreet Kaur have conducted research demonstrating that training programs focusing on sustained mental effort can improve cognitive performance in both children and adults. Their 2025 study found that students who participated in cognitive endurance training showed significant improvement in their ability to focus over a continuous stretch of time.

Building cognitive endurance requires more than just throwing tasks at it; it demands a thoughtful approach, one that involves understanding how our brains work and what we can do to optimize them. Research has shown that training focused mental effort, rather than task-specific activities, is what matters most for building cognitive endurance.

Elite athletes have long recognized the importance of cognitive endurance in their performance. Dr. Sumeyya Ozsoy, an applied sports scientist who works with top-level teams and individuals across various sports, notes that “once you’re at the top, physical capabilities aren’t what’s comparing a winner to a loser.” Instead, it’s the cognitive threshold or resilience that sets winners apart.

The rest of us can benefit from building cognitive endurance. Error rates among workers increase by roughly 12 percent as the day goes on; doctors and paramedics alike suffer from problems sustaining attention. University of California psychologist Gloria Mark calls this a “switch cost,” where every time we switch our attention, we have to reorient to that new activity, using more mental resources and creating stress.

To build cognitive endurance, training must be smart, not just hard. It’s about developing strength and endurance gradually, allowing recovery time, and engaging in novel activities that challenge the brain. Novelty is key, says neurologist Emma Devenney: “you have to switch on these other mental abilities, but also you’re building new connections within your brain.”

The irony of it all is that the same activities recommended for improving cognitive endurance – challenging puzzles, learning a musical instrument or language, mentally demanding video games – are also those proven to reduce dementia risk. However, enjoyment is crucial; if the task is challenging but boring, it’s difficult to maintain attention.

To make training our brains enjoyable, we can incorporate elements of novelty and challenge, as well as gamification. By doing so, we can build cognitive endurance without sacrificing our motivation or pleasure in learning.

While cognitive endurance may hold promise as a solution to our collective distraction, it’s not a silver bullet. Building this mental capacity requires a thoughtful approach that acknowledges the complexities of human cognition.