Smartphones can be a distraction from other tasks
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Are you constantly finding yourself getting distracted at work by your smartphone, indulging in mindless scrolling when you should be focusing on tasks? Many try to combat this by putting their phones out of reach, but a recent study suggests that this might not be as effective as we think.
According to Maxi Heitmayer, a researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science, people often resort to tactics like turning their phones upside down, hiding them under notebooks, or even tossing them behind their backs in an attempt to avoid distractions. Heitmayer’s previous research revealed that individuals tend to interact with their devices approximately every 5 minutes.
To investigate whether distancing the phone can help reduce distractions, Heitmayer and his team observed 22 university students and office workers, aged between 22 and 31, as they worked on their laptops in a controlled environment. The participants were asked to keep their phones within arm’s reach on one day and on a separate desk 1.5 meters away on another day, requiring them to physically stand up to access their devices.
The study found that participants spent an average of 23 minutes engaging in leisure activities on their phones when they were nearby, compared to 16 minutes when their phones were farther away. However, this didn’t translate into increased work productivity. Instead, individuals spent more time on leisurely activities on their laptops, particularly on social media platforms. Heitmayer noted that while phone usage decreased, the time spent on similar distracting activities merely shifted to a different device.
Daantje Derks, a researcher at Erasmus University Rotterdam, emphasized that the underlying activity, such as social media or online gambling, is what truly distracts individuals, rather than the device itself. She highlighted the need for larger studies conducted in real-world work environments to validate these initial findings, as the dynamics of everyday life could influence behavior differently.
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