Social media + digital distractions
Lack of motivation
Stress/ anxiety
Lack of structured study habits
Noisy environment
Top 5 factors that affected oneās ability to focus
Listening to music or white noise
Creating a dedicated study space
Turning off notifications or āDNDā
Setting specific study goals or time
Strategies currently used to improve focus
Tools or apps used to enhance productivity
Planner
Calendar
To do lists
Notion
Face time friends for study session
āOne thing that has helped me lock in is putting my phone in my drawer so I canāt see it. Out of sight out of mind.ā - Isaiah Liggins, High School senior
Several students mentioned the importance of turning off their phones or using Do Not Disturb (DND) modes to maintain focus, particularly during study sessions. Locking the phone away or out of sight is a popular method for avoiding distractions.
A common theme is the lack of motivation and organization, which directly impacts their ability to focus and remain productive. Students often mention that study goals or clear time blocks are helpful but challenging to maintain consistently.
Some students report struggling to resist the urge to check their phones, especially for notifications or social media updates.
Focora is a customizable study and focus app that turns your phone from a distraction into your best productivity tool. With focus modes, social study sessions, streak tracking, and more, it makes staying on task engaging, measurable, and fun.
INTERVIEWS + SURVEYS
āļø I conducted a google forms survey asking students in high school and college about their experiences/ challenges with productivity + technology.
š¤ Additionally, I conducted one-on-one interviews with the students to further understand the influence of technology in productivity and the idea of ālocking in.ā
š Here are some key takeaways.
CURRENT ACADEMIC LEVEL
WEEKLY # OF HOURS SPENT STUDYING
AFFINITY MAPPING + IDEATION
š”While our affinity mapping didn't consist of just these few stickiesā¦here are some key ideas that helped with our ideation process.
š±Apps used to help focus
š Non Tech Things that have helped with focus
š Pain points
š User needs
šļø Divergent thinking
Gamified focus
planner
Gamified
task
tracking app
Desk Buddy w
Timer
motivational
notifications
lights that
change based
on
focus
levels
proximity based
phone locking system
Smart locks
on
Apps
Lock in - lock screen: app where you can customize focus modes
š”
šŖ© Convergent thinking
Low effort
high effort
Low Impact
High Impact
Motivational notifications
Lights that change based
on focus levels
Lock in Lock Screen
Proximity based phone locking system
Smart lock on apps
Gamified task
tracking app
Gamified Focus
planner
Desk buddy with timer
Wants to get his work done in one sitting
Wants to work with friends but stay focused and not go on a yap sesh
Be able to keep track of everything he has completed throughout the week
*courtesy of notion
CHARLES LAMON
š
š¤
š
š
š
šÆāāļøšÆāāļø
š
š
š
š„²
š
STAGE OF
JOURNEY
ACTIONS
EMOTIONAL
STATE
FEELINGS
+ NEEDS
POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES
FOR IMPROVEMENT
Preparing to Study
While studying
Studying with friends
Finished
studying
Charles starts by opening multiple apps (Timer, Calendar, Notion) to check his tasks for the day.
Charles sets a timer for his study session, using the Pomodoro technique to stay on track.
As soon as he gets into the session, Charles instinctively reaches for his phone, scrolling through TikTok.
Charles enjoys working with friends for motivation but often ends up chatting instead of focusing.
Charles enjoys tracking his progress but it feels scattered across multiple apps.
At the end of the week, he reviews how many tasks heās completed but struggles to find everything in one place.
Positive
Negative
Excited, optimistic,
annoyed
He feels overwhelmed by switching between apps and gets frustrated at the lack of an all-in-one solution.
Despite setting time limits, his phone is a constant distraction.
Ends up losing track of time with unproductive breaks.
Need: A tool that minimizes phone distractions while still allowing for structured breaks.
There's no system to track how well everyone is staying on task.
Need: A way to study with friends while maintaining focus through accountability.
Difficulty tracking everything in one place leads to feelings of disorganization.
Need: A comprehensive dashboard that consolidates tasks, study sessions, and progress.
Motivated, studious
Disappointed,
guilty
Fun, but unmotivated
Done, but unsatisfied just glad its over
Develop new habits or systems to limit distractions caused by her phone.
Improve the structure and productivity of study sessions with friends by setting clear goals at the beginning
Create an environment that nurtures consistent motivation and positive reinforcement.
UC Berkeley Junior, Cognitive Science + CS
BEHAVIORS + HABITS
FRUSTRATIONS
GOALS + NEEDS
āI need to lock in on my assignments but often get distracted on my phone and end up scrolling on TikTok and reels when I should be doing my readings.ā
As a double majoring junior, Charles has a lot on his plate from class assignments, extracurriculars and job search.
Likes to work with friends
Gets easily distracted from her phone and ends up scrolling when she shouldnāt
Utilizes study methods, such as the Pomodoro Technique
Likes to have āfreeishā weekends to relax
Loves tracking her goals
Canāt seem to keep track of everything she needs to do in one place
Has a lot of organization apps such as Reminder, Calendar, and Notion but is annoying to go through all of them individually
Keeps reaching for phone when trying to ālock inā
š§© Introducing....
Focora!!!
JOURNEY MAP + PERSONA
Focus with Friends
Track Work Sessions
Discover Others
All-in-One Homepage
Personal Profile
Custom Focus
SOLUTION
