Steve’s interruptions are what notifications are on your smartphone during times that require focus.Įven if you choose to ignore them, the mere fact that you have seen them is damaging your concentration through slight nudges to your focus. This might not be an accurate representation of your reality, but that's not the point. Imagine trying to study or work, and every time you get 5 minutes of focus ‘Steve’ barges through the door with excitement, telling you about his weekend plans, or showing videos of his five cats playing.

The modern smartphone is (despite its benefits) a constant flood of distractions, which can be devastating in situations where you really should be focusing on a single task. Having several apps that are constantly battling for your attention by pushing notifications to your locked screen is no recipe for concentration. When it comes down to focus, phones can truly be your worst enemy. There are still a few areas where mobile brings more harm than good, though. Everyday activities such as meeting up with a group of friends or keeping up with new habits are suddenly a lot easier-and it's all thanks to the smartphone. It may sound harsh when put in that way, but think about it: it really just points to the emotional value that the mobile can bring to us. We’ve reached a point in time where most people wouldn’t last a week without their smartphone. It all comes down to commitment and lack of focus. So what’s with the title, right? Why go back to pen and paper? Today, most of our daily activities can in some way be performed through our phones, which in most cases also results in increased efficiency and productivity.

Pen and paper image