Things not to do when writing an essay: Lesson #1 - DO NOT write with your phone next to you 📱

[Frederic]

I need to confess something embarrassing so that none of you make the same mistake. Last week, I had this 1500-word essay on cognitive behavioral therapy due at midnight. I sat down at 6 PM feeling confident. "Plenty of time!" I thought. Famous last words.

Here's the thing: my phone was right there. On the desk. Screen up. And every two minutes, a notification would pop up. Instagram. TikTok. A text from my mom. My roommate asking what's for dinner. Every single time, I'd pick it up "just for a second." Y'all, those seconds added up. By 10 PM, I had written exactly two paragraphs and was deep in a rabbit hole of watching dog grooming videos.

I finally threw my phone across the room (onto my bed, don't worry), put on some lo-fi beats, and wrote like a maniac for two hours. The essay got done, but it was NOT my best work, and I was exhausted.

So here's my PSA: one of the biggest things not to do when writing an essay is keep your phone within arm's reach. Put it in another room. Hide it under your mattress. Give it to your roommate. Just get it away from you!

What's your biggest distraction? Let's shame each other into better habits!

 

[Peterson]

Solid advice, Frederic. The psychology here is real—every notification triggers a tiny dopamine hit that rewires your brain to seek distractions.

Here's what worked for me: grayscale mode. Seriously. Go into your phone settings and turn off color. Suddenly Instagram looks boring, TikTok feels lifeless, and your brain stops craving the scroll. It's like kryptonite for your phone addiction.

Also, I use the "Focus Mode" on Android that blocks apps entirely for set periods. No amount of willpower can override it—I've tried.

The mattress hiding method is valid too. Out of sight, out of mind. Thanks for the reminder, Frederic!