How to study without getting distracted by your phone

The most effective way to study without phone distractions is to put the phone in another room and block the distracting apps for the length of the session. Silencing it is not enough. A phone lying face down on the desk still takes up part of your attention.

Why "just ignoring it" fails

Every check costs more than the seconds it takes. After an interruption it takes several minutes to get back to the same depth of concentration, and a study hour with six quick checks can contain very little real work. Resisting the urge also uses up the attention you need for the material.

8 things that work

1. Distance first. Another room is best. A bag across the room is second best. On the desk is worst.
2. Block apps for the session. Close social and video apps for a fixed time so opening them is not an option. See how to block apps on iPhone.
3. Work in timed blocks. 25 minutes of work and a 5-minute break is a good default. Use 45/10 for deeper tasks.
4. Take breaks without the phone. Stand up, drink water, look out of the window. A feed in the break makes the next block harder.
5. Decide the task before you start. "Chapter 4, questions 1–10" beats "study chemistry".
6. Keep a distraction list. When something pops into your head, write it on paper and return to it later.
7. Use a computer blocker too if you study on a laptop. The same feeds are one tab away.
8. Study at the same time each day. A routine removes the daily decision.

If you need your phone for studying

Authenticator codes, a scanner app, a dictionary: sometimes the phone is a tool. Keep only those apps available and block the rest for the session. Notifications off, except calls from family if you need them.

Studying in groups

Agree on a rule everyone follows: phones in a pile in the middle of the table, or in bags, until the break. It is easier to follow a shared rule than a private one.

Exam weeks

During exam periods set your limits lower than usual and keep them fixed. Deciding each day how much you "deserve" costs energy and usually ends generously. If nights are the problem, see phone before bed.

A focus timer that locks the apps

Verge includes a focus timer: choose 25 minutes or your own length, start it, and the apps you selected are blocked until the timer ends. Scheduled blocks can cover your fixed study hours every day, and Strict Mode keeps the limits in place during exam weeks. Each session and each day under your limit counts toward your streak.