To run or automate something means to use a machine or computer for efficient production. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, has famously stated: 

“The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.”

When it comes to students and study habits, I believe this same principle applies. When I shared the second half of this quote with my students recently, they immediately recognized the correlation with coursework: If they are studying in such a way that is inefficient, unproductive, distracted, too late at night, etc., continuing in this manner results in even more inefficiency and unproductiveness. 

I’ve asked students to do this simple exercise, which illustrates how having to continually refocus on a task is inefficient. It’s fun and quick, so consider trying it yourself as I explain. Take out a writing implement and piece of paper, and draw a table with 3 columns and 3 rows (see example). Start the stopwatch on your phone or have someone time you to see how long it takes to write the numbers from 1-26 in the first column and then write the alphabet from A-Z in the second column. Be sure to write all the numbers first, then write all the letters. Record your time in the third column.

Next, in the last row, time yourself switching back and forth between writing a number in the first column and a letter in the second column. Back to the first column for the next number, the second column for the next letter, and so on until you have written all 26 numbers and all 26 letters in order one at a time. Record your time and compare with the first timing. 

Even before you started, you probably guessed that the second method, where you have to keep switching between tasks, is a lot more time consuming. It becomes pretty clear: focused work is always more efficient than disrupted work (or multi-tasking). 

This activity has helped students understand that by checking phone notifications as each one pops up while they are trying to study causes them to be inefficient at studying, and the inefficiency compounds as time goes by. 

And it’s not just the notifications. It’s the phone itself! Check out this interesting study done by the University of Texas at Austin that confirms even the proximity of one’s cell phone has a marked effect on one’s ability to focus. 

For more information about efficient time management and multi-tasking, download this document from the CTL website. 

What do you do to help yourself stay focused on a task? I’ve been known to put my phone in the next room! How do you stay focused? Share ideas that work for you in the comments.