A recent study from the University of Chicago has found that the mere presence of one’s smartphone reduces available cognitive capacity. It’s not enough to just have the screen or sound turned off, if we want deeper focus we need to be physically separate from our phones. This connects with my own experience in trying to think and write, but also to drive attentively and be present in the moment while interacting meaningfully with other humans and nature. See more here Having your smartphone nearby takes a toll on your thinking:
With these findings in mind, students, employees, and CEOs alike may wish to maximize their productivity by defining windows of time during which they plan to be separated from their phones, allowing them to accomplish tasks requiring deeper thought. Moreover, asking employees not to use their phones during meetings may not be enough. Our work suggests that having meetings without phones present can be more effective, boosting focus, function, and the ability to come up with creative solutions. More broadly, we can all become more engaged and cognitively adept in our everyday lives simply by putting our smartphones (far) away.
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