5 Ways to Avoid Distractions from Phones
As students, I think we’ve all been scolded and lectured on how we use our phones too much. I know that I have. But honestly, I don’t think phones are as bad as some adults would like us to believe, and I don’t think that never using a phone is a solution to avoiding distractions. There are ways to balance time on your phone and time doing other more productive and important things.
I have compiled my favorite 5 Ways to Avoid Distractions from Phones:
#1 Prioritize. In the A Day In My Life article, I talked a lot about priorities. Using your phone should never be prioritized over school work, of course, but it can have some priority in your day. Personally, I like to prioritize my morning routine over my phone, but once I finish, I like to scroll until it’s time to leave.
#2 Give yourself time. You always want what you can’t have, so let yourself have your phone. Let yourself indulge in some scrolling or watching each day. I find it particularly helpful to have a set time each day that you check all social media accounts; I like to check everything between school and my after school activities (about 3:45 to 4:15) because it allows me to take a break and recharge a little.
#3 Put it on silent. This one sounds silly because the phone will still buzz or light up, but I find it helps a lot. For me, if I hear my phone, the ding will just repeat in my head over and over and over until I’ve checked it. Leaving my phone on silent helps me to forget that my phone even exists while I work.
#4 Charge it far away. Although it sounds inconvenient, having your phone beside you while you sleep can distract you from sleep and make you more distracted the next day because of the lack of sleep. I always charge my phone downstairs (my room is upstairs) so that when I go to sleep I am not woken up by notifications. If you need your phone as an alarm clock, even charging across the room is helpful.
#5 Keep it face down. The best habit that I have developed with my phone is putting it face down. No matter what I am doing or where I am, if I put my phone down, it is face down. This makes sure that when I am working or talking, notifications are not in my line of sight and preoccupying my mind.
BONUS to keeping your phone face down…
when you are speaking with someone, they will feel like they have your full attention and you will have better conversations.
As always, leave a comment with questions, thoughts, and suggestions for the future!