What is Attention Residue and How Does it Impact Student Focus?

March 17, 2025 byCharlotte Davies

4 min to read

A young girl laying on her bed looking at her phone.

There's a lot going on in a modern student’s life. As learning becomes more integrated with technology and extracurricular activities increase and to-do lists seem to grow longer, it feels like there are more and more things competing for their attention. It might feel like it’s a struggle for students to stay productive and focused on their schoolwork from time to time, and it turns out there’s a good reason for that—it’s called “attention residue.”

What is Attention Residue?

Attention residue is when your brain has trouble switching between tasks. The term was coined by Dr. Sophie Leroy, a professor and researcher who noticed that “people’s attention remains focused on the interrupted task and does not fully switch to the interrupting demand”—or in other words, that their brain is still thinking about what they were doing instead of what has caught their attention now.

Attention Residue and Task Switching and Students

For students, attention residue can happen when they don’t leave enough time between tasks to mentally transition to their new tasks. For example, a student switching immediately from catching up on a reading assignment to studying for their math test may still find themselves thinking about the passage they just read when trying to memorize math formulas.

Why do I Have Trouble Switching Tasks?

According to Dr. Leroy, humans have a deep, fundamental need to see things through to the end. If we leave a task without finishing it, our brains hold on to the incomplete work we’ve left behind even after we’ve turned our attention toward something else.

How Does Task Switching Impact Learning?

Task switching psychology goes deeper than just attention residue. Another side effect of jumping between tasks is the “switch cost,” or the time it takes for your brain to readjust to a new thing. The more complex the task, the larger the switch cost will be. This, coupled with attention residue, could impact a student's learning by reducing their ability to focus, slowing down their learning pace, and runs the risk of increasing a student’s mental fatigue.

How to Limit the Effects of Attention Residue and Task Switching for Students

Students can minimize the impact of attention residue and maintain focus in school by using a few different techniques.

Create a Ready to Resume Plan

Dr. Leroy recommends creating a “ready to resume plan,” which simply encourages students to take a few moments to write a quick note about what they were working on before switching to a new task. This lets the brain find a conclusion to the task and establish a plan to pick up where it left off when it is time to start the task again. . A student’s ready to resume plan for writing a paper on photosynthesis, for example, might look like this:

I just explained what photosynthesis was and why it’s important for life. Next, I need to define the different elements (chloroplasts, chlorophyll, etc.) and explain how the process works.

Take Short Breaks Between Tasks

Creating a gap between tasks can help manage attention residue by giving the brain time to more fully disengage from what it was doing and reset itself. When a student completes a task, they can better transition into the next topic by taking a few minutes to stretch, go on a walk, or try another activity to help themselves switch gears.

Students should be mindful of what kind of breaks they take, as even fun brain breaks like completing a puzzle, making a meal, or playing a short game can still cause attention residue. They should instead try activities that quiet the mind rather than stimulate it. Something like a short break to meditate or complete a small chore like making their bed could have better results than scrolling on social media or watching TV.

Complete One Task Fully Before Starting Another

Sometimes it’s easier to stick with something until it’s finished when it comes to attention residue, especially for shorter tasks or if the student feels particularly excited or interested in the work. They may find that removing distractions and limiting their focus toward a single objective rather than looking at all the other things they need to get to that day may help them work through their assignment more efficiently. Once the task is complete, their mind can create a conclusive end and allow them to more easily switch to the next topic.

Batch Similar Tasks Together

Occasionally, there will be short repetitive tasks that, regardless of subject, need knocking out, such as organizing notes or learning new vocabulary words. Task batching can help increase productivity for students because it lets the brain remain active within the same context from task to task. Vocabulary words for language arts and for science both exercise the same part of the brain even though the student’s completing different assignments.

How Online School Can Help Students Learn More Efficiently

Students who attend in-person, brick-and-mortar schools may not have as much time during the school day to mentally prepare for the next class or subject. If attention residue is something your student struggles with during their learning day, an online school like Connections Academy may be the solution.

Students who attend a Connections Academy-supported school have the flexibility in their school day to create a learning schedule that works best for them—including adequate times for brain breaks and the order in which each subject occurs. This level of customized learning can help engage, motivate, and support learning in ways that work for each child. Explore what parents are saying and what you can expect by downloading our free eGuide.