GMAT Distraction Control: How to Stay Off Your Phone While Studying

Social media scrolling, text notifications, and email pings all compete for our attention when we’re doing our best to stay focused during GMAT prep. Here are some tips to keep your phone and other devices from hijacking your GMAT prep.

Tip #1: Put your phone in Do Not Disturb or Focus mode.

This may seem like an obvious action to take, but we’d be remiss not to mention it. Smartphone notifications are designed to grab our attention, so silencing your phone for a set amount of time is key to a productive study session. Even better, put your phone out of reach in another room. Smartphone addiction is a real thing, so this may be difficult at first. Try thinking of phone time as a reward after studying, and over time, you’ll grow accustomed to it.

Tip #2: Be mindful of internet search rabbit holes.

When we’re studying and hit an unfamiliar topic, the first thing many of us do is search for answers online. Often, this search is actually procrastination in disguise! Searching for one simple thing can lead to another, and before we know it, we’re completely derailed. Instead of continually pausing your studies to search for answers online, try keeping a list of questions for later. Then, set aside 10 or 15 minutes to answer them before your next study session.

Tip #3: Use focus apps to stay on track.

To overcome procrastination, GMAT students sometimes need more than willpower alone. The good news is, there are apps that block distracting websites so we can follow through with our study plans. Some GMAT focus apps to try include Freedom, Cold Turkey, and StayFocusd.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep