The Iglu Guide | Blog
Why a digital break could help you with your studies
Between group chats, gaming marathons, and doom-scrolling between lectures, screen time has quietly taken over student life. Since the pandemic, the habit of reaching for a device first thing in the morning – and keeping it nearby all day – has become second nature.
But what if all that screen time is actually holding you back from studying better, sleeping deeper, and feeling more balanced? If you’ve ever felt burnt out, distracted, or overwhelmed, a digital break might be the productivity hack you didn’t know you needed.
Here’s how hitting pause on your screen can help you study smarter and feel better.
Know your digital habits
Do you know how long you’re on your phone each day? Gen Z spends up to 7 hours a day on screens – that’s nearly a full-time job’s worth of swiping and scrolling. From TikTok and Spotify to group chats and student portals, our phones now play a role in almost every part of student life.
Check your screen time with your device’s built-in features – Apple’s Screen Time or Android’s Digital Wellbeing. If you’re hitting numbers closer to 7+ hours, it might be time to set some healthy boundaries and schedule a digital detox.
Why are screens so addictive?
Every time you check your phone, you get a little hit of dopamine – the brain’s feel-good chemical. It’s why social media feels rewarding in the moment but often leaves you drained. Apps are specifically designed to keep you engaged, with notifications and alerts that tap into your need for connection and validation.
For students juggling study pressure, social lives, and uncertainty about the future, it’s easy to lean into screen time as an escape. But too much of it can lead to procrastination, lower mood, and even impact mental health.
The study-boosting benefits of a digital break
Pulling back on screen time doesn’t mean ditching your devices completely – it’s about reclaiming control. Even short digital breaks can lead to noticeable changes in how you study and feel:
- Better sleep quality – which helps your brain absorb and retain information more effectively
- Less stress and anxiety – giving you a clearer head for tackling assignments
- More focused study sessions – fewer distractions = deeper learning
- Extra time – for hobbies, exercise, or simply taking a breather
- Greater self-esteem – when you’re not constantly comparing yourself online
- Increased creativity – without your feed filling every quiet moment
Easy digital detox tips for students
When it comes to switching off, we have to rely on our own sense of what feels right and what feels wrong. Avoiding screens altogether is probably an impossible task, and not necessarily the answer. But learning to manage our digital habits and regaining moderation and control is something that is entirely within reach for us all. You don’t have to go cold turkey – start small and build from there:
- Turn off notifications: Reduce the pings and dings that interrupt your focus. You choose when to check apps, not the other way around.
- Remove temptation: Make your home screen really boring, with favourite apps hard to get to. Anything that’s a single click away is way too close for comfort.
- Keep your phone out of reach during study sessions: Or use apps like Forest or Freedom to block distractions.
- Charge your phone outside your room: Especially at night – better sleep = better brain function.
- Avoid screens first thing in the morning: Try not to reach for your phone until you’re out of bed and ready to start the day.
- Replace screen time with real-time: Read a chapter, go for a walk, or call a friend instead of messaging.
- Set your own rules: Maybe it’s no screens after 9pm, or a full Sunday offline. Find what works for you and stick with it.
Studying is already tough – don’t let your devices make it harder. Taking a step back from the screen doesn’t just give your eyes a break, it gives your brain room to breathe, reset, and actually retain what you’re learning.
So if you’re feeling scattered, sluggish, or just tired of being online 24/7, a digital break might be exactly what your studies – and your sanity – need.
Photo by @courtneyrclayton on Unsplash
