We don’t take notice of how much our minds are driven away from our priorities. We have a strong mentality to finish off certain things, but then our minds float into distractions such as scrolling through our phones. About 6.3% of the population are addicted to their phones, but they can change this.  

Watching videos isn’t bad, but it is clear that because of the way apps like Instagram and TikTok work , they are designed with continuation, a nonstop loophole. Therefore , this is one of the reasons why we don’t even realize how much time goes by— the repetitiveness. The common theme between these apps is how they prioritize your human desires into videos and pictures. We are compelled to check our phones at a buzz or ring because of the dopamine that it triggers.

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The real question is can you create a stop to allow yourself to be productive? The answer is to minimize and set straight your goals. Imagine yourself for a second without your phone? The creativity that is bound to flow when you’re alone with your thoughts is inexplainable. You can do this by just even starting to set a minimum goal time without it, and incrementing it each week.

Another solution to this is self awareness. In the position of a student or a teacher when you get home, make a list of your wants and needs. Get the mindset of what you wish to do and will be doing. Turn off your notifications; give yourself the time to do most of the tasks without it. Halfway through your desired list, reward yourself with something besides your phone to replace it being the only thing you want.

The end goal of this is to focus on yourself and realize the time running from you by being distracted for too long to open your mind on what keeps you away from running free. Time is precious everyday. How will you enjoy it? By looking at a screen for hours? Just to end up feeling guilty and stressed because of what you couldn’t do? Hopefully, not.