Lots of old people tell us that all our problems stem from our smartphones. Which only proves that the real problems are the old people. Smartphones are the most revolutionary invention since the wheel, a more futuristic shift in society than Neuromancer, and more overall fun than every sport in the world. Also anyone calling college students “kids” isn’t saying anything that’ll help them.
It’s important to respect the awesome power of the smartphone. Even when you’re enjoying it. Especially then. These portable computers can transport your mind to endlessly distracting destinations. You just have to remember that it always does that.
One of the most important skills for any student is maintaining concentration. It’s not enough to dedicate an hour to studying a course, because the examiners are going to test how much you actually know, not how long you spent sitting near your notes. Because sitting a few feet from your notes but only centimeters from your smartphone means you’re not studying at all.
I’m not saying don’t use your phone. Because I’m not stupid, and I just patted my pocket to make sure my own precious smartphone was still there when I started talking about them. I’m just saying we have to count connecting to the internet as a whole thing. It’s not a “quick look”, it’s not a “tiny break”, it’s an entire activity and should be enjoyed as such.
Checking your notifications is a whole entertainment activity. Quick little glimpses at your timeline totally break your concentration, rerouting all your thoughts to things that certainly won’t be on the test, and can all too easily add up to thirty minutes out of every hour. Not only does this disrupt your work, it breaks your relaxation, because a quick scroll through the timeline is just as distracting as a real break but without any real rest.
Checking on friends is fun but requires active thought and response. Reading, thinking, responding, it’s a quick-fire exam on social interaction. It just doesn’t feel like a test because you enjoy the subject. And social media never, ever ends because there’s always more to check. So since you can never truly keep up with what’s going on, you can wait a half-hour to check at all.
Then you can enjoy it! Kick your feet up, grab a drink, stretch out with some tunes and tap away to your heart’s content. Now you’re taking a proper break. Now you’re getting the full effects of relaxation and will be all the better at working again afterwards. But that buzzing vibration in your pocket is only ever a distraction. And unless your friends are snapchatting solutions to group project problems the smartphone can wait until you’ve finished what you’re working on right now.
It’s important to respect the awesome power of the smartphone. Even when you’re enjoying it. Especially then. These portable computers can transport your mind to endlessly distracting destinations. You just have to remember that it always does that.
One of the most important skills for any student is maintaining concentration. It’s not enough to dedicate an hour to studying a course, because the examiners are going to test how much you actually know, not how long you spent sitting near your notes. Because sitting a few feet from your notes but only centimeters from your smartphone means you’re not studying at all.
Checking your notifications is an entire activity, and should be treated as such.
I’m not saying don’t use your phone. Because I’m not stupid, and I just patted my pocket to make sure my own precious smartphone was still there when I started talking about them. I’m just saying we have to count connecting to the internet as a whole thing. It’s not a “quick look”, it’s not a “tiny break”, it’s an entire activity and should be enjoyed as such.
Checking your notifications is a whole entertainment activity. Quick little glimpses at your timeline totally break your concentration, rerouting all your thoughts to things that certainly won’t be on the test, and can all too easily add up to thirty minutes out of every hour. Not only does this disrupt your work, it breaks your relaxation, because a quick scroll through the timeline is just as distracting as a real break but without any real rest.
Checking on friends is fun but requires active thought and response. Reading, thinking, responding, it’s a quick-fire exam on social interaction. It just doesn’t feel like a test because you enjoy the subject. And social media never, ever ends because there’s always more to check. So since you can never truly keep up with what’s going on, you can wait a half-hour to check at all.
Then you can enjoy it! Kick your feet up, grab a drink, stretch out with some tunes and tap away to your heart’s content. Now you’re taking a proper break. Now you’re getting the full effects of relaxation and will be all the better at working again afterwards. But that buzzing vibration in your pocket is only ever a distraction. And unless your friends are snapchatting solutions to group project problems the smartphone can wait until you’ve finished what you’re working on right now.
