Have you ever tried to do homework at home? I quickly learned that this is not a productive location. I am constantly distracted by friends, roommates, TV, food; you name it. I even go so far as to clean my room or do my laundry, which I like to call “productive procrastination,” which is procrastination nonetheless.
Now, have you ever gone to a library to do your homework and spent the entire time distracted? Be honest with yourself. I’m not here to judge. I can admit that I have spent hours at a library and not read a single word of my assigned reading. Whether I’m Snapchatting my friends with the library geotags, scrolling through SoundCloud or simply staring blankly at a wall, I always seem to find something more engaging than my reading.
Through much trial and error, I have found that I cannot do my readings on my computer. If a professor assigns online reading, I simply must print it out. I much prefer reading from a physical copy or a textbook. The best part about books? They do not have Wi-Fi.
The Internet is a giant black hole with time-warping powers where, when deep enough, there is no escape. I learned in one of my classes this semester that the use of the Internet and
How long would you say you spend on your phone or computer on a daily basis? And for how many days have you maintained that routine? If you’re like me, you’re too damn lazy to count, and if you’re like me, you probably haven’t even read this far in the article without zoning out at least once or twice. This is one of the crippling side effects of technology usage.
So how does this happen? Why does technology drain our ability to focus? In short, technology requires the usage of many different senses. For example, when you are scrolling through your Instagram feed, you are using your thumb to move through the various posts, thus including your sense of touch. Obviously, your vision is engaged as you scan photo after photo, and often your sense of hearing can also be occupied when you come across a video. This multisensory connection is far more attention-hogging than simply reading a page in a book, which only requires conscious vision.
This need to constantly occupy all of our senses at once destroys our ability to focus on one thing. When I was in middle school, before I was plagued with an iPhone, I could sit down and read an entire book without looking up from the pages. Now, I will occasionally struggle to get through a page without fidgeting or needing to grab something else to change my mental
However, there is good news. It is as easy to improve attention abilities as it is to harm them. It is gradual, just as most learned skills are, though still very easy. All it requires is resisting the urge a little bit longer. When reading an assignment for class, read five pages before looking up instead of three or four. When typing an essay, set a goal of two pages before you can take a break to stretch your legs. Whatever you do, print out those reading assignments because nothing is more distracting than a million notifications popping up in that upper right-hand corner of your computer screen.
So challenge yourself. Focus on one thing at a time. Leave your phone at home when you go to the library. Put it on silent when you are at dinner with your boyfriend. Turn off that Wi-Fi when you have an essay to write. Simply allow yourself to have the gift of focus.
Marisa is a sophomore majoring in journalism. How does technology affect your day-to-day life? Let us know what you think. Send all comments and concerns to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
