Doomscrolling is exactly what its name implies – scrolling to your doom. And though previously unheard of, it has unfortunately become a problem to most students with access to the internet. Distractions are everywhere – with the world quite literally at your fingertips, there are so many more interesting things to work on than math homework. There’s this inexplicable connection to social media apps such as Instagram and Tiktok that prompts us to open them every time we pick up our phone, even if that’s not what was initially intended. It’s become a force of habit, and it drags us into an endless loop of video after video. As students, it’s so important to be able to manage our time well. So, how do others do it? How are our peers able to set their phone aside and prevent themselves from getting distracted?
Sophomore Tyler Yeung shares his unique way of staying off his phone and avoiding distractions at all costs: locking his phone in a box.
“To stay focused on my homework, I leave my phone locked away in a box in another room, making it harder to access and reducing distractions. This helps me maintain my concentration and avoid the temptation to check it during study sessions. When I don’t do this, I struggle to get anything done because I’m constantly checking my phone. I know it’ll be harder to not pick it up if it’s right there in front of me, so I take an extra step in removing that chance completely,” he says.
Another student, freshman Thomas Le, takes a similar, if not more extreme, approach. If he catches himself on his phone for an extended period of time, he’ll throw it on the piece of furniture farthest away from him.
“Throwing the phone gets rid of the problem quickly, and I don’t have to play mental games with myself, saying I’ll put it down after one more video. This way, I’ll most likely forget about my phone, and even if I wanted to go on it, I’d have to find it first,” he says.
I’d recommend this approach, but with a warning: it’s a risky game, and there’s a chance you could break your phone. Throw with caution!
Last but certainly not least, from senior Kelly Fong comes the most creative approach yet. The way she stays off her phone, ironically, is by using it.
“I record a timelapse of myself while studying, so I can keep myself accountable. I can’t use my phone while filming a timelapse, and it’s like someone is watching me, which forces me to focus on only schoolwork. In order to have a longer video, I have to study for a long time each time I decide to film it,” she states.
There’s certainly no shortage of different, creative ways students force themselves to not use their phone. In a world where distractions find the most unique ways to manifest themselves, it’s up to us to find what works best for us too. The next time you find yourself inching towards your phone, you can take the advice of these students and put your phone down.
