Mindfulness
Everyday attention
15 questions · 4 min
This questionnaire looks at a simple, everyday kind of mindfulness: how often you’re actually aware of what you’re doing and feeling, rather than running on autopilot. It asks about ordinary moments like walking, eating, listening and working.
All the statements describe moments of not paying attention, so answering “Almost never” gives a higher, more present score.
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What it shows
How often you notice what’s happening in the present moment in daily life.
What it doesn’t
A measure of how well you meditate, or a diagnosis of attention problems.
Who it’s for
This test may suit you if your days often feel like a blur: eating without really tasting, walking somewhere without noticing the way, or half-listening while your mind is elsewhere. It’s also a gentle place to start if you’re curious about mindfulness but don’t meditate.
If you’re starting a mindfulness practice or a course, you can take it before you begin and again a couple of months later to see whether your everyday attention has shifted.
Questions people ask
What does the MAAS measure?
It measures how often you notice what’s happening in the present moment in daily life. It looks at one simple, everyday kind of mindfulness: being aware of what you’re doing and feeling, rather than meditation or feeling calm.
How long does the MAAS take?
There are 15 short statements, and most people finish in about 4 minutes. For each one, you choose how often it happens to you, from “Almost always” to “Almost never”.
How is the MAAS scored?
Your score is the average of your 15 answers, from 1 to 6, and a higher score means you’re more present. There are no official cut-offs, so the result is described in rough thirds of the range rather than compared with other people.
Is a low score a bad result?
No. A lower score means you spend more time on autopilot, which happens to everyone in busy lives. It isn’t a measure of how well you meditate or a diagnosis of attention problems; if you’re worried about your attention or concentration, a doctor or other professional is the right person to assess it.
How often can I retake it?
Everyday attention can change with practice, so it makes sense to take it again after about 8 weeks. That gives enough time for any change, for example from a new mindfulness habit, to show up.
Who developed the MAAS?
Psychologists Kirk Warren Brown and Richard Ryan developed it at the University of Rochester in 2003. It has been widely used in mindfulness research since then.
Where it comes from
Developed by psychologists Kirk Warren Brown and Richard Ryan at the University of Rochester in 2003.
Mindful Attention Awareness Scale
On iPhone or iPad?
Sprout is an app there too, and this link opens the test straight away if you have it.
Coming soon to the App Store