Your phone can steal focus just by being nearby.
The Brain Drain study found that the mere presence of a smartphone can reduce available cognitive capacity, even when people are not using it.
Read the cognitive capacity studyWhy it matters
Phones are everywhere. Attention needs backup.
The patch does not say phones are bad. It gives your brain a pause point before the check, scroll, camera grab, or notification reflex.
Notifications interrupt attention even when ignored.
A study on cell-phone notifications found that alerts can hurt performance on attention-demanding tasks even when people do not pick up the phone.
Read the notification studyAt work, interruptions cost more than a few seconds.
Research on workplace interruptions links interruptions with higher stress, frustration, time pressure, and effort. A physical barrier helps protect deep-work blocks.
Read the workplace interruption studyAt shows, phones can change the room.
Phone-free comedy and event policies exist because recording, checking, and glowing screens can break attention for performers and the audience around you.
Read about phone-free comedy shows