Gloria Mark Attention Research

Overview

Gloria Mark is a Professor in the Department of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine. Her research on attention, interruptions, and multitasking has become foundational to modern time management and productivity practices.

Key Research Finding

Mark's most widely cited finding is that it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to fully regain focus after being interrupted. This research has profoundly influenced how organizations and individuals approach work scheduling and time blocking.

Research Areas

Mark's work examines:

• Attention Span: How digital environments affect our ability to maintain focus
• Interruptions: The cognitive cost of workplace interruptions
• Multitasking: The effects of attempting to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Digital Wellbeing: How technology use impacts stress and productivity

Practical Applications

Her research supports:

• Creating protected time blocks without interruptions
• Minimizing context switching through task batching
• Designing workspaces and schedules that reduce unnecessary interruptions
• Understanding the true cost of "quick" interruptions

Publications

Mark has published extensively in academic journals and her book "Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity" (2023) makes her research accessible to general audiences.