Leave Your Damn Phone Behind to Be Productive Again!

If you’ve been having a difficult time in taking a mental break, this study says that we need to avoid using our phones.

Rutgers researchers discovered that using a phone as a break during tough mental tasks doesn't help the brain recharge well and might make performance worse.

College students were given tricky word puzzles to solve.

Some took breaks using their phones, while others used paper or a computer, and some didn't take a break at all.

Those who took phone breaks felt most mentally drained and were least able to solve the puzzles afterward.

Their speed and effectiveness after the break were like those who didn't take a break.

They solved slightly more problems after the break than those who didn't take a break, but did worse than everyone else.

What do I need to know?

People who took phone breaks took 19% longer to finish the task and solved 22% fewer problems compared to those in other break conditions.

Terri Kurtzberg, one of the researchers, highlighted how grabbing your phone in between tasks might be common but can have costs. Phones might distract more than other devices, making it hard to focus again on work.

She explained that phones activate thoughts about messages, connecting with people, and accessing tons of information, unlike computers or laptops.

Participants in the study solved word puzzles and then took breaks where they picked items to buy within a budget, using either their phone, paper, or a computer. The study had 414 people and was co-authored by Sanghoon Kang, a doctoral candidate at Rutgers Business School.

This article was originally published in Psych — the free bi-weekly newsletter for quick insights on psychological biases.