Distracted?

Brandon Carter

While many believe computers are almost a necessity, they can be a gateway to distraction. Specifically they provide a convenient alternative to studying. Many people feel that by studying on the computer you have access to more resources than you would if you were studying from notes, books, or other material. While this may be true, many college students don’t use the computer wisely.

For example, it’s very easy to be on a computer studying for a test and working hard then suddenly decide to check your email or Facebook. This may seem like an innocent thing and some students tell themselves it’s only for a moment, but this moment many times turns into something that can keep students occupied for several hours. It’s so easy to get involved with a website online that you completely forget that you need to be studying. When this kind of thing happens the night before the test, it’s never good. While trying to study for a big test this once seemingly innocent distraction may end up costing some students a good grade. Even though this may not be true of all students, this affecting anyone is a slight cause for concern.

On the other hand, some students may find this not to be a cause for concern because they may feel like they have a good handle on their time management. They very well could have, but the thing is it doesn’t take much to take one’s focus off of the subject at hand. What is the easiest solution? One possible solution is for students to not use a computer when they study. Because many students need their computer in order to study another solution could be to allot certain times to certain activities and study with a friend. By doing this the student can have someone to help keep them to their set time allotments and also have time for fun along with studying. No distractions can be some of the best distractions.