
The app records how many trees you grow over the course of time. Once you start growing the tree, if you leave the app and go somewhere else on your phone, the tree dies. Forest is an app that allows you to build a tree on your phone whenever you want to focus. Promising yourself that you’ll watch the next episode of your show after you’ve finished an assignment may help you focus your efforts in a way that watching the show before working on the assignment may not. For example, you could try a Pomodoro method, where 45 minutes of studying earns 10 minutes of something you enjoy.

But if you’re feeling distracted by something you really want to do, try promising yourself that you’ll dedicate your time and attention to the distraction after you’ve finished the task you’ve set for yourself. Check out these videos for further inspiration and explanation.Ĭonvert your distractions into rewards. Post your WHY somewhere visible where you will see it frequently to remind yourself of what you are working for and why you need to focus. Your reason could be to make your family proud, to be the first one in your family to graduate from college, to get a high enough GPA to get into law school, or to do well enough to secure a good job after college. Write down your WHY-why you want to do well in school and what you are working for. Put sticky notes and reminders to stay focused on your laptop, on the wall, and on your phone background. Read this message when you find yourself being pulled into distractions. Write a message or letter to your future self to remind yourself of your goals. With practice, you’ll be able to recognize the times when you’re prone to distraction.


You can also try practicing metacognition, or “thinking about thinking.” Observe the moods, thoughts, and other mental states (boredom, frustration, fatigue) that tempt you to pick up your phone or flick to your Twitter tab.
#Stayfocused vs cold turkey tv#

This handout shares tips and tools to help you minimize distractions and stay on track when it matters most. The good news is that there are techniques that can help you break negative technology habits and recenter your focus on your studies. While digital distractions are certainly not uncommon, they can be harmful to your study habits, breaking your concentration and rendering your reading or studying habits ineffective. Do you frequently check your phone during class, work, or social settings? When you are attending class online from home, are you interrupted or distracted by notifications or the impulse to check for them? Do you stop studying every few minutes to text, check your social media, or watch a YouTube video? If this is you, know that you are not alone.
