Breaking The Distraction Cycle
Zain was a bright student living with his family in Warangal. He had two sisters, Rihana, who was older and studious, and Ayesha, who was younger and loved to play. The Khan family was very close-knit and they spent many happy moments with each other.
Zain was preparing for an important exam—the CA entrance exam, which will be conducted just after finishing his 12th grade exams. This exam was very important for his future and he wanted to do well in it. However, Zain faced a big challenge: he was having difficulty focusing on his studies.
Every day after school, Zain would come home and sit down with his books, ready to study. But instead of focusing, he would often end up scrolling through social media, checking endless notifications, or daydreaming about random “what if” scenarios.
Zain’s friends would call him to hang out, and he couldn’t resist joining them. While he enjoyed spending time with his friends, he realized these distractions were hurting his studies. He often thought, “I need to study harder,” but the cycle of getting distracted would start all over again.
One afternoon, after a long day at school, Zain sat at his desk, trying to study. He opened his textbook, but his phone rang with a message from his friend. He picked up the phone to check and found he was caught up in a web of videos and posts. Hours passed, and by the time he looked up, it was time to eat dinner. Feeling upset and worried, he realized he hadn’t studied at all.
That night, when Zain was sitting at the dinner table with his family, he shared his troubles. “I can’t focus on my studies. My friends keep distracting me, and I’m worried about the exam,” he confessed. Rihana, always supportive, nodded. “Zain, you need to find a way to limit those distractions,” she suggested. Ayesha said, “Yes! Maybe you can turn off your phone while you study.”
Zain thought about their advice and decided it was time to make some changes. The next day, he sat down and made a plan. He wanted to be free of distractions and focus on his studies.
Zain realized he needed to understand where his time was going. He decided to keep a time journal for a week. Every hour, he would write down what he did. After a week, he reviewed his journal and realized he was spending too much time on social media and chatting with friends. He also noticed his habit of daydreaming and overthinking, often imagining “what if” scenarios, like whether he would clear his entrance exam or become a great CA.
With this information, he identified his most productive hours of the day. Zain found that he was able to focus better in the morning after a good breakfast. He decided to create a study schedule that included dedicated study blocks, break times, and leisure activities.
With his new plan, Zain felt hopeful.
This is only a glimpse of the journey—discover the complete story within the pages of the book.
“Because every story has the power to change something.” — A. Bansal