Tossing your phone in a drawer will help you focus. Think again.
A new study from the London School of Economics says the problem isn’t your smartphone—it’s you. More specifically, the habits we’ve built around our devices keep pulling us away from work.
“The smartphone itself is not the problem,” says study co-author Maxi Heitmayer. “It’s what we do with it—and the apps that fuel these habits.”
Researchers observed 22 young adults over two five-hour work shifts to prove this. One day, their phones sat on the desk; the next, phones were placed five feet away. The twist? Even when the phone was out of reach, participants simply shifted their attention to something else—like their laptops. The result: only 3.5 hours of real work, with 1.3 hours lost to digital distractions.
Removing the phone doesn’t remove the urge to escape. We’re wired for distraction, and many apps are designed to keep us hooked.
Heitmayer says it’s a daily battle. “The things inside phones that are the biggest attention sinks are developed by companies who profit from our inability to resist them.”
So, what can you do?
There’s no silver bullet, but there are ways to push back. Try setting app limits, silencing notifications during work blocks, or even using tech that helps you stay mindful of screen time. But personal effort isn’t enough—Heitmayer believes the real solution lies in holding tech companies accountable, especially when it comes to protecting younger users.
Smartphones can be powerful tools for creativity and learning—but only if we stay in control. Until then, hiding your phone won’t help much… because your brain’s already looking for the next digital fix.
