We saw in the first part of this episode that technology can tank your success in class. So it’s a good idea to train yourself not to use it when it’s potentially going to turn your brain into a pile of mush and short-circuit the important relationships you need to jumpstart your career.
Let’s explore a bit more about the non-technological solutions, and when they might actually be better than using your tech.
When Intern MG is being his over-the-top, uber-productive, over-achieving self, he can often be seen scurrying around the castle (did I mention he’s living in a castle this semester? Yes, a castle. With turrets. I’m not jealous at all.) carrying his notebook. Not his notebook computer; an actual paper notebook. From Moleskine, of course. But why paper?
Buy physical notebooks for classes
He uses the paper for his class notes and to-do lists. For starters, paper has no distractions. He can take notes without being reminded that his shmoopie Sam just bought a new outfit. Even though he’s hopelessly devoted to his relationship, study time shouldn’t be interrupted by feeling like he has to compliment a new dress. Paper notebooks have no interruptions.
Physical notebooks win in reliability! When using them, you can’t swipe by accident and wipe out important information. Plus the battery never runs out of power, and lack of internet connection won’t leave you stranded. When the zombie apocalypse comes and takes the power grid with it, your to-do list will still work, while all those other people’s to-do lists won’t.
As we’ve explored before in this podcast, research shows hand-written note-taking is simply more effective, even if you don’t capture as much of the information, instead of on a computer. You’ll remember more, which was the main reason you were taking notes in the first place. It’s also a distraction-free zone. There are no squiggly red lines or formatting settings to “augment your workflow.” Writing shouldn’t be mixed with editing or spell-checking. You want the purity of you, your class, and your thoughts.
Sit in the front of the classroom
In business school, I got up super-early the first day of class to sit at the very back of the room. It was called the “Skydeck” and was where all the cool kids hang out. And at long last, I got to hang out there too!
Apparently, the cool kids all had 20/15 vision and super-hearing powers. A couple of months into class, I voluntarily moved to the “Wormdeck,” as the front row was called.
I could hear the professor. I could read the chalkboard. And I was focused on the learning, rather than passing around notes and “top–10 lists,” which was the main Skydeck activity.
Sitting in front forces to focus on the learning. Constant eye contact with your teacher promotes healthy feelings of guilt if you spend time on your computer not listening to what they’re saying. The guilt will make you smart. And if guilt isn’t enough, they’ll be able to see you using your computer, which will add shame and public embarrassment to the mix. That’s a potent mixture that will not only get you learning, but also support the economy, as you’ll have to deal with the lingering after-effects of all that negativity by employing a small army of therapists once you’ve graduated.
And just in case you’re thinking that you can sneak a peek at someone else’s computer … you can’t! You’re in the front row and no one else’s computer is in your sight line. Like it or not, your technology detox is under way.
Steal your professor’s brain!
As an extra bonus, sitting in the front row also helps you read your professor’s mind and suck the knowledge directly out of their brains. Bwahah hah hah hah! Actually, I’m completely serious. As an undergrad, I noticed that learning in-person from a professor who really understood the material gave me much better learning, much faster, than learning on my own or from someone with a lesser understanding. I’m sure it has something to do with mirror neurons, or subtle nonverbal cues, or something like that. Unfortunately, I was playing Halo 3 on my laptop during the day we covered that material, so I don’t remember it.
Delete distracting apps
Some classes require using a computer, and they may even ask you to look things up on the web. But they don’t require you to look up YouTube videos like the latest Adam Ruins Everything: The Truth about Hymens (which is actually quite educational and if you’re a guy, will teach you things you never knew before).
Keep your web surfing focus intact by using a blocker. Intern MG is a sucker for browsing ZooBorns.com when he’s supposed to be paying attention in Perfectionism 101. He uses blacklisting apps like SelfControl or Focus. He turns them on, adds ZooBorns to the blacklist, and can still look up the many faces of perfectionism but not… not… not… the many faces of cute, adorable ZooBorns.
When in doubt, throw them out
If the computer is just too much of a distraction, downgrade. Buy a cheap, “dumb” laptop that’s only loaded up with note taking, work processor, spreadsheets, and other productivity apps. It’ll be just like the 1990s, back when Silicon Valley actually tried to make computers useful tools rather than soul-sucking distraction, surveillance, and mass manipulation devices. You only need a few applications to do your most productive work, as I discussed in my episode on writing fast.
That still doesn’t solve the problem of being distracted by a smartphone. As horrifying as he may find the prospect, MG might get a lot more out of his education by trading in his smartphone for a flip phone.
Find an accountability buddy who hates technology
As I recounted in my episode on getting a boundary buddy, you can team up with a friend to help hold each other accountable. My friend Timmy is my accountabilibuddy, and you can have one too! Just find a friend and ask them to help you stay true to putting learning first, and technology second.
Your accountabilibuddy can set with you in the front row, so you can be A+++ students together. Have a daily chat right before class where you remind each other of your in-class goals. An accountabilibuddy doesn’t do much except listen. And just talking about progress with someone else can help you build momentum.
Once you’ve created good habits by explicitly choosing your non-tech tools over your tech tools when it makes sense, sitting in the front of the classroom, using website blockers, and hanging with your accountabilibuddy, you’ll be more present. You’ll learn more. You’ll take an active voice. You’ll lead in class discussions, and you might even convince other students to get off their laptops, too. Pretty soon, you’ll be able to join MG at the very top of the class, where you can duke it out for the top spot in Perfectionism 101.
This is Stever Robbins. Follow Get-It-DoneGuy on Twitter and Facebook. I run webinars and other programs to help people be Extraordinarily Productive, and build extraordinary careers. If you want to know more, visit SteverRobbins.com
Work Less, Do More, and have a Great Life!
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