Designed to captivate our attention, phones have the power to pull a student’s focus even when they aren’t looking at them. Trying to finish math homework can feel challenging when a student can’t stop thinking about what they are missing online. So, how can students (and adults!) manage our most omnipresent distractor? Here are some tips for cutting down on screen time and boosting focus.
Out of Sight
To create an environment that is optimal for learning and work completion, students need to put their phones far away. And face down next to them doesn’t count! During dedicated homework time, we suggest that students:
- Turn off their phone
- Put it in another room
This physical barrier is as important in the classroom as it is at home. At school, students should consider putting their phones in their lockers or backpacks instead of their pockets during class. The goal of having the phone out of sight is to create an obstacle to disrupt the automatic habit of checking it.
Out of Mind
Even if their phone isn’t in physical proximity, just thinking about it can be a distraction! The urge to scroll when the alternative is a history essay can be strong. Additionally, students may feel anxiety about texts and notifications received when they are away from their devices.
It can be helpful for students to reflect on their phone usage. They should ask themselves when they tend to reach for their phones.
Is it…
- When work feels overwhelming?
- When they don’t know where to start?
- When they’re bored or tired?
Understanding their habits can help them build new routines to combat this drain on their attention.
We also suggest that students:
- Break up work time with scheduled time to check their phones, go outside, stretch, get a snack, etc.
- Consider working with a friend or family member close by to help them stay on task.
- Have clear goals for what they want to accomplish for each chunk of time so that work feels manageable.
Build New Habits
For teens and adults alike, spending more time away from screens can help decrease dependence. To make setting aside phones easier, build new phone-free habits or routines. See our ideas below!
- Going on a walk with friends or family and leaving phones at home!
- Sharing a phone-free meal with friends or family
- Picking up a hands-on hobby like baking, weight lifting, crochet, puzzles, etc.
Our phones are tools of connectivity, but they can also pull us away from the moment and important work that demands our attention. Teaching students to build healthy habits around their screen time is an important part of setting them up for success beyond high school.