How to Stay Focused While Studying: Beating Phone Distraction in the Attention Economy
Updated: Oct 1
Many of the students I teach tell me the same thing: they sit down to study, open a book or a document, and an hour later they have done twenty minutes of real work. That is not a lack of willpower. The apps on our phones are designed by some of the best-funded companies in the world to capture and hold attention, and a student with a reading list is competing with them every day.
This post explains that challenge, often called the attention economy, looks at what research says about phones and learning, and sets out a practical system for protecting your focus. None of it requires you to give up your phone. It is about deciding when your phone gets your attention, rather than letting it decide for you.
What is the attention economy?
The idea is simple: when information is abundant, attention becomes the scarce resource. The economist Herbert Simon made this point as early as 1971, writing that “a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention”. Many free apps and platforms earn their money from advertising, so the more time and attention users give them, the more valuable they become. Features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, streaks and notifications exist largely to keep you engaged for longer.
For students this matters because deep study, such as reading a difficult article, planning an essay or working through a problem, needs sustained attention. Every interruption costs more than the few seconds you spend on your phone, because it takes time to get back into the task and pick up your train of thought.
What the research says about phones and learning
Your phone can distract you even when you are not using it. In a 2017 study, Adrian Ward and colleagues found that people performed worse on tests of working memory and reasoning when their silent phone was on the desk than when it was in another room. A 2023 meta-analysis of 22 studies by Böttger, Poschik and Zierer supported this “brain drain” effect, particularly for memory and attention, while noting that its size varies between studies.
Devices in lectures affect later exam results. In a 2019 study of university students, Glass and Kang allowed devices in some lectures but not others. Device use did not lower scores on quizzes during the lecture, but it reduced long-term retention and lowered performance on later unit and final exams, even for students who did not use a device themselves.
The practical lesson from both studies is the same: out of sight works better than willpower.
A practical system for focused study
1. Decide what the session is for
Before you start, write down one specific goal: “Read and take notes on the Smith article” or “Draft the second body paragraph”, not “Work on my essay”. A clear goal makes it obvious when you have drifted, and gives you a satisfying finish line.
2. Put your phone in another room
Not face down and not on silent next to you, but in another room or in a bag out of reach. If you need a timer, use your laptop or a kitchen timer. If you must keep the phone nearby, put it on the far side of the room on Do Not Disturb.
3. Work in focused blocks
The Pomodoro Technique, developed by Francesco Cirillo, uses 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break, with a longer break after four rounds. Many students find 25 minutes too short for reading or writing, and 45 or 50 minutes with a 10-minute break works well too. What matters is that each block has a clear start and end, and that you protect it completely.
4. Make your breaks real breaks
Scrolling social media in a five-minute break often turns into twenty minutes, and it fills your head with exactly the fragmented input you were trying to avoid. Stand up, get a drink, look out of the window or walk round the block, and save your phone for the longer break.
5. Use your devices' own tools
iPhones (Focus modes and Screen Time) and Android phones (Digital Wellbeing and Focus mode) let you pause distracting apps for set periods, and website blockers do the same on a laptop. Set them up once so that you are not relying on willpower every time.
6. Match the task to your energy
Do your hardest work, such as writing, difficult reading or problem sets, when you are most alert, which for many people is the morning. Save lighter tasks such as formatting references or organising notes for when your focus is naturally lower.
7. Protect your sleep
Sleep is when the brain consolidates what you learned during the day, and late-night scrolling is one of the most common reasons students tell me they cannot concentrate the next day. A simple rule, such as charging your phone outside the bedroom, can help more than any study technique.
Staying focused in lectures and online classes
Close every tab you do not need, and use full-screen mode for slides or video calls.
Take notes actively. Summarising in your own words keeps your attention on the speaker, and my guide to note-taking methods explains which approach to use when.
In online lessons, keep your camera on where you can. It is much harder to drift when you are visibly part of the class.
Keep a notepad for distracting thoughts, such as “reply to Sam” or “check train times”, so you can deal with them later without breaking your focus.
When it is not just distraction
If you cannot concentrate whatever you try, or you feel anxious, exhausted or low for long periods, talk to someone. Most universities have free wellbeing and study-support services, and your GP can help too. Difficulty concentrating has many possible causes, and the right support makes a real difference.
Frequently asked questions
How long can students focus for?
There is no fixed number, because attention varies with the task, the time of day and how tired you are. In practice, most students work well in blocks of 25 to 50 minutes with short breaks in between. Start with what you can manage and build up.
Does having my phone nearby matter if it is on silent?
It can. Ward and colleagues found that people performed worse on demanding cognitive tasks when their phone was on the desk, even on silent, than when it was in another room. Putting it out of sight is one of the simplest changes you can make.
Is it better to study with music?
It depends on you and the task. Many people find music with lyrics distracting for reading and writing because the words compete with the language they are processing. If you like background sound, try instrumental music or ambient noise and notice whether your work gets better or worse.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
A time-management method created by Francesco Cirillo. You work on one task for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes after four rounds.
Focus is a skill, and like any skill it improves with practice and a good system. If you would like support with study skills, planning and academic writing, take a look at my one-to-one online Academic & Research Skills sessions. You may also find my guide to free AI tools for academic writing useful.
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