Turn Off The Cell Phone, And Other Winning Study Habits

Contribution by Emily Bell

It’s shiny. It makes you laugh. It can make funny noises. And it’s full of some of your favorite people in the world. Why on earth would you want to put it away?

Here’s why: your cell phone doesn’t want you to get into college, pass the test, or even get a good grade on a negligible Phys. Ed. quiz. Your cell phone couldn’t care less if you failed out of high school and took over microwave duties at the nearest Dunkin Donuts. Neither could your television, iPad, iPod, Wii, or any of the gamut of high-tech products currently tempting you away from your studies. Really.

Technology is our friend (potential evil robot insurrection notwithstanding). But students in this day and age have it harder, much harder, than students from the old red schoolhouse days, when the biggest possible study distraction was the vociferous moo of a nearby cow. You might feel luckier, with your games, music, and fave fives constantly close at hand. But you’re not, because the world wants to distract you. And you have to choose to defy it. 

You have to make the choice to make your own study time. Try it. We dare you. You can do it, cell phone-free. Carve out an hour of uninterrupted academics. Not used to sitting still for an hour? Start with a half hour. But start with something—now. And no matter how tempted you feel, make it all about your studies. Put everything away. Imagine you’re on a first date with your brain. You wouldn’t answer your cell phone on a date, would you? So light a candle, put on some soothing music, and get ready to get to know your brain—and your personality—technology-free.

The Lesson: Give yourself an allotted amount of time, distraction-free, to reintroduce your brain to the world outside of a tiny, brightly-lit screen. Anything with a tiny apple on it? Put it away.