Want Better Focus? Do This to Your Phone Right Now

If you've ever stared at the computer and wondered, "Why can't I focus?" You might want to reconsider how you're using your phone .

In fact, this is also the case if you're struggling to sleep or with your mental health, too. According to new research, having constant access to the internet via your phone can negatively impact not just your attention span, but  mood , sleep, and overall health, too. Fortunately, researchers who worked on this study also figured out exactly how to reverse it.

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Published in PNAS NEXUS, the study set out to investigate what happens when people block their mobile internet for two weeks. In order to do so, they had one group (let's call them Group A), disable mobile internet f or two weeks while group B maintained access. Once that was done, they switched Groups A and B, allowing A internet access while B had to block it.

The results? After blocking mobile internet access for just two weeks, 91% of participants experienced an improvement in at least one of three areas: sustained attention, mental health and/or subjective well-being (SWB).

Related: The Surprising Morning Habit That Experts Recommend for Better Focus

These changes weren't subtle, either. According to the research, the observed increase in attention span was comparable to being 10 years younger in cognitive ability, and the  improvement in mental health  was "larger than the meta-analytic effect of antidepressants," and "similar to that of cognitive behavioral therapy" (CBT). 

Meanwhile, participants reported spending more time offline, consuming less media in general, and experiencing better self-connectedness, self-control and more restful sleep as a result of the experiment.

Related: How Bad Is It Really to Sleep With Your Phone Next to Your Bed?

This seems like a huge payoff for such a simple move, right? But it makes sense: The researchers believe that the break, and therefore influx in spare time, inspired participants to pursue activities known to boost happiness and attention span like trying new hobbies, spending time outdoors, socializing in person and exercising .

TL;DR? Constantly being connected to mobile internet is taking a toll on our mental health, focus, and overall well-being—as well as keeping us from doing activities that can help improve our health . That said, hope is not lost! Even a short break can make a significant difference in how we feel.

So next time you're feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or can't be bothered to finish the task at hand, consider unplugging. It's a simple yet powerful way to improve your life, even a little bit, as often as it's needed.

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Sources

• "Blocking mobile internet on smartphones improves sustained attention, mental health, and subjective well-being."  PNAS NEXUS.