We live in a world that celebrates shortcuts. Need to pick up a skill? Watch a 60-second TikTok tutorial. Need to lose weight? There’s a pill for that. While technology and convenience have certainly made our lives easier, there is one thing that hasn’t: the value of working hard and applying yourself.
We’ve all heard the saying, “Work smarter, not harder.” And yes, being strategic is important, but sometimes, that is just an excuse we give for doing no work whatsoever. The truth is, no matter how smart or talented you are, it doesn’t mean anything if you’re not going to do the work and put in the effort.
In today’s academic environment, coasting through school without applying yourself has never been easier. Between Google, ChatGPT, and endless websites, you can get by doing the bare minimum. Still, so many people choose not to do assignments because they would rather be doing something else: sitting on their phones.
One of the biggest obstacles to applying ourselves today is our phones. So many of us can’t put our phones down. Notifications, endless scrolling, and algorithms designed to hold our attention have become a part of our lives and have taken our time and energy.
The issue isn’t that our phones are distracting–although they can sometimes be. It’s that they have taught us to prefer instant rewards without any effort. If every question can be answered in a Google search and every piece of information can be found using AI, our capacities for concentration and effort only worsen.
Many people say that we are the future and that what we do as teenagers and young adults can help change the world, but this is not possible if people do not learn to apply themselves and put down their phones.
Applying yourself does not mean burning out or getting everything right. It means showing up, giving it your best shot, and being present even when it’s challenging, boring, and especially when it doesn’t seem to be paying off. Individuals who work hard learn things that shortcuts and screen time cannot teach.
When students do the work, get through distractions, and do hard things, it shows. You build problem-solving skills. You learn how to prioritize time, how to get through confusion, and how to stay disciplined. These aren’t just school skills, but skills that will help you for years in every aspect of your life.
Spending time on your phone is okay, but boundaries are necessary. When a teacher tells you to put your phone down, do it because these are crucial skills that are needed to succeed in the future.
It may seem like a small thing, but those constant interruptions add up. They pull you out of the moment and make it harder to truly learn, absorb, and grow. When you choose to listen, to stay engaged, and to be mentally present, you’re not just following instructions, you’re building habits that lead to success.
At the end of the day, applying yourself will only help you in the future. You don’t need to be perfect, but you need to care. You need to try. While your phone may provide you with thousands of ways to avoid doing tasks, none of them will give you the knowledge and skills necessary for the future.
While it may be difficult to put down the phone, the truth is, every time you choose to focus, you’re investing in yourself. You’re choosing long-term growth over short-term comfort.
So, challenge yourself. Put down the phone. Focus on your learning. Although it may not seem important now, it will be one day.
