Keep your phone away from you.
The results of a new study conducted by the University of Texas McCombs School of Business have shocked millions of phone users.
In one experiment, researchers asked study participants to sit in front of a computer and complete a series of tests that required full concentration to get a good score. Before starting, some of the participants were told to place their smartphones on the table, while others were told to place them in another room.
The researchers found that participants whose phones were in another room performed significantly better than those whose phones were on the table. This result shows that the proximity of the phone to the person reduces the available cognitive ability.
Having a smartphone within sight or reach reduces the ability to concentrate and complete tasks, researchers say, because a part of a person's brain is actively working to open or use the phone.