The Wrong Way to Use Your Phone When Studying:

When it is time to sit down and do your homework, your phone is not your friend. If your phone is sitting beside you while you study, it will be a constant distraction. Whether it is the temptation to play just one more level of Zombie Candy Birds or to reply to the text that your friend just sent, acknowledge that you are human, that you are weak and that you will not be able to resist. Every time you fail to resist temptation, you get distracted from your homework, and every time this happens, it takes you that much longer to get things done and makes you that much more likely to forget everything that you are trying to learn.

Think that you are awesome at multitasking, so your phone (or TV or whatever) is not a distraction? THINK AGAIN! Our brains are incapable of multitasking. We can only focus on one task at a time. When we perform several tasks at once, we perform all of them more poorly than if we were to focus on one at a time. Studies show that those who study while surrounded by distractions, like phones or loud music, have difficulty accurately recalling what they learned the next day.

The Right Way to Use Your Phone When Studying:

Treat your phone like an organization tool, but then put it in another room when it is time to concentrate on your studies. In fact, even if you are using the timer function, you can still keep the phone in another room (just turn the volume up on the alarm). Here are some ways that your phone can help you stay organized and on top of your work:

1. Use it as an agenda: Use the built-in notes app or another app to help you keep track of assignments. 
2. Use it to manage your schedule: Use the built in calendar or another calendar app to keep track of due dates, tests, appointments and everything else in your life. If the app you use allows you to set up text or email reminders about important upcoming deadlines, USE THEM, so you don't forget.
3. Use it to let your teacher help you remember important things: If you teacher uses an app like Remind or Schoology to send out text notifications about upcoming deadlines, make sure you sign up for the service. 
4. Use it to set an alarm: When a text or email reminder might not be enough, set an alarm or timer to go off when you need to get started on an important task. Or set up alarms that go off every day to remind you to perform routine tasks, like starting your homework or packing your bag for school the next day.
5. Use it to get in the right frame of mind for studying: Many studies support the benefits of practicing mindfulness to calm your mind, increase your focus and improve your grades. Many apps will lead you through guided meditations to help you calm your mind before beginning your homework.
6. Use it to make to do lists: Many apps can help you make lists, so you don't forget something important. If you tend to forget things at home, you might make a list to help you remember what to put in your backpack for school and use it daily to help you get ready in the morning. You could also make a list of your homework or of the steps that you must complete in order to finish a project on time.
7. Use it to stay focused: For some people, an interval timer can help them remember to refocus when their mind wanders during study. For others, an interval timer is a useful way to ensure that they take regular study breaks and that those study breaks don't last too long.

There's An App For That!

myHomework: This app is like an agenda for your phone

Trello: This app and website can help you make to do lists that can incorporate colour coding, due dates and more.

OneNote: From to do lists, to course notes, to research and reading assignments, you can keep it all in one place with OneNote.

Evernote: Use it like an agenda. Also handy to gather information for projects and assignments.

Wunderlist: Use it to make a to do list and set up reminders so that you actually get things done.

Remember the Milk: It can be linked to your Google Calendar, Evernote, Outlook account and more. Use it to make to do lists and schedule reminders.

Interval Minder: If your mind tends to wander when you study, use this app to remind you to refocus.

Interval Timer: While most people use this app for the gym, you can use it to set up timers for study periods and study breaks.

30/30 Task Manager: Make a to do list and set a length of time for each of them. Start the timer, and it will tell you when to move on to the next task. Works as an interval timer too.

Smiling Mind: A great app to help you get started with mindfulness.

​Stop, Breathe and Think: ​Another app to help you try out mindfulness. See which is your favourite.