How to Stay Focused When Studying on Your Phone
For plenty of us, the phone is the only device we have for studying. We read notes on it, take practice quizzes on it, and watch tutorial videos on it. It is also where every chat, status update and video is waiting. Staying focused takes some setup.
Decide what the phone is for during study time
Before you start, say it clearly to yourself: "For the next 40 minutes, this phone is only for my practice quiz." That one sentence makes it easier to notice when you drift.
Turn off the noise
- Switch on Do Not Disturb. Calls from favourites can still get through if you need that.
- Turn off notifications from social media and group chats for the study period.
- Put the phone on aeroplane mode if the material is already downloaded, then use Wi-Fi only if you need it.
Every notification is a small invitation to leave your work. Remove the invitations.
Use one app at a time
Switching between apps feels productive, but it breaks your concentration. Open the app you need and stay in it. If you need to look something up, note it down and do it during your break.
Work in short blocks
Try 25 to 40 minutes of focused study followed by a 5 to 10 minute break. During the break, stand up, drink water and look at something far away. Don't pick up social media, because a "quick check" can easily become twenty minutes.
Keep your phone in a smart place
If you're only using it for a few minutes, keep it flat on the desk with the screen up so you don't need to pick it up. If it's not needed at all, put it out of reach, in your bag or across the room. Studies on attention show that even a phone nearby can reduce focus.
Make your screen friendly to your eyes
Use night mode in the evening, keep brightness comfortable and hold the phone at a normal reading distance. Eye strain makes you tired quickly, and tired students scroll.
Save data and battery
Download notes or PDFs when you have a good connection. Charge your phone before you start. Nothing breaks a study session like a dying battery or a stalled download.
Reward yourself
When a session is done, enjoy your chats and videos guilt-free. Knowing that a break is coming makes the study block easier.
You won't be perfect every day, and that's fine. Aim to have a few truly focused sessions each day, and your results will show it.
Keep reading
- What to Do the Night Before and the Morning of an Exam – The last 24 hours matter more than most students think. A simple checklist for arriving calm, rested and ready.
- Study Group Tips: How to Revise With Classmates Effectively – A study group can double your learning or waste your whole afternoon. Here is how to make sure it does the first.
- How to Take Good Lecture Notes and Turn Them Into Revision Summaries – Good notes are not a copy of the slides. Learn how to capture what matters in class and shrink it into something you can revise from.