This article almost didn't happen. At the end of a semester, things move fast, so it can be easy to feel buried with projects and studying for finals, on top of all your other responsibilities. Or, if you're like me, you have occasional impulse control issues or you feel like your brain is just done and your body has yet to catch up. That's when it's even easier to fall victim to everyday distractions.

My article in a single image.

The first and maybe worst of these are smartphones, the epitome of technology that can control you instead of the other way around. Be sure to turn off notifications for any and all apps that frequently steal your attention away from other things, but that might not be enough. In that case, there are apps to lock you out of your biggest distractions, or at least help you learn to balance your time between work and play. Most of the apps on iOS are better for training your brain to stay focused, but Freedom will block your social media apps from updating for a set length of time. Unfortunately, Freedom isn't free beyond a trial basis. The basic subscription is $6.99 a month.

Android users have more choices, and FocusLock seems to be one of the most popular. On the website, it's described as "the digital adderall of the distracted and procrastinating masses." It works pretty simply by allowing the user to select the apps they want to block, as well as how long those apps stay locked. Most importantly, it's free. If all else fails, just use your phone or tablet to do your work. It's how I wrote this article.

Some people work best under extreme pressure, but for those who don't, advance planning is key (and something I should do myself). Set aside X number of hours for this class, Y hours for that one and Z hours for Netflix, or gaming, or whatever you do to unwind. Just don't unwind too long, and especially don't forget about eating or going to the bathroom. Handle your scheduling just right and you might even be able to get out this weekend.

You could also find some better diversions. When you're feeling stressed, go out for some exercise, take up painting, play chess. Just get away from all your electronic distractions

I have a Sancho moment in the next paragraph.

Some of this has probably been hitting the nail on the head, but don't underestimate how easy it can be to miss the nail and hammer your fingers. It's also very easy to mangle your metaphors and actually quite fun. But, where was I again? Gaining mastery over your distractions is a learning process, and sometimes you need to go back for some remedial training