Smartphones are a constant source of entertainment, so it’s no surprise that most students cite them as their biggest distraction. (A few blamed “loud talking,” and one said, “a crush.”) To stay focused, many students put their phone out of reach or turn off notifications. Some, like Aisha Ayman, a first-year student at U of T Scarborough (and “frequent wanderer”), go further. She entrusts her phone to her mom, who “won’t give it back,” says Ayman. “She’s like, ‘Let me see if you’re done.’” Others rely on sheer willpower or strategic planning, such as setting goals, sticking to a schedule and breaking up big tasks into smaller steps.

4%

I’m laser-focused

15%

Mostly steady

32%

Sometimes swayed

31%

Frequent wanderer

18%

Like a squirrel!

This highly unscientific poll of 100 U of T students was conducted across the three campuses in February.