Said It Here

Why do I feel anxious when my phone is out of sight?

Having your phone nearby provides an automatic physical comfort, even when you have no intention of using it. Without it in view, the brain struggles to settle, leading to an instinctive urge to constantly reach for a screen just to quiet your mind.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

  1. 1
    Complying with school-wide phone bans that require phones to be put away entirely
  2. 2
    Trying to advocate to teachers and staff for the ability to keep phones if used responsibly
  3. 3
    Exercising, running, or practicing yoga for mindfulness
  4. 4
    Leaving the phone in another room for short periods
  5. 5
    Going for walks instead of sitting at a desk to think
  6. 6
    Engaging in focused physical hobbies like throwing darts

In their words

Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.

“She said that she understood they weren’t allowed to use her phones but that, at lunch, she wanted to “at least be able to have it on the table.””source ↗

“She basically said “I just feel better with it on the table but I won’t use it.””source ↗

“Not having their phones in sight, even if not in use, causes discomfort”source ↗

KitchenConsequence41 · r/Teachers · 1,123 upvotes

“Working means screens all day. The second I stop, the phone is in my hand. Not because I want it. My brain just can't sit still at that point.”source ↗

“So I never really think anymore. I just react, all day. The only quiet I get is the few minutes after waking up before I grab the phone.”source ↗

1a5t · r/Entrepreneur · 63 upvotes

“yeah the phone grab is the killer ngl. the second its in my hand the thinking is done.”source ↗

avatar0027 · r/Entrepreneur · 1 upvotes

Where this came up

r/Entrepreneurr/Teachersbehaviormental healthproductivityschool policy

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