Marlborough’s new cellphone policy has brought new changes into students lives. The policy has affected how students prioritize their social and academic lives without their phones. If you’re wondering how to Yondr correctly, here are a few tips on how to deal with the absence of your phone during the school day:

Use your planner

Fortunately, Marlborough has issued planners for every student this year. It contains the times for each class period and provides space to write down homework assignments and upcoming assessments. This way, students can organize their work on paper instead of a screen and write down weekly reminders such as meetings with teachers, after-school practices, rehearsals and approach-ing deadlines.

Plan ahead

Many students used to rely on their phones to communicate with their friends during school, something they are now unable to do. This “poses a challenge” Mila Bakhshandehpour ’27 said. A tip to prevent this issue is to plan a meeting place with your friends to go when there are no classes, such as a spot on the field or a CEI cubicle.

Use your laptop instead

Without phones, the electronic alternative for students is their laptops. When reflecting on previous school years without this policy, students reported relying on their phones as a pastime when in school. The switch from phones to computers has promoted an increase in studying rather than mindlessly scrolling duringfree time. Overall, computers are now used for MyMarlborough, Google Calendar, reminders and more.

Make unforgettable memories

One of the few downsides of not having your phone is the inability to take photos. But even without phones, you should still log your memories: A fun way to replace your phone is to bring a camera to school. At the beginning of the school year, Council used this idea by hiding disposable cameras around the campus to take
pictures. You can take photos, even without your phone, by bringing your own camera and taking photos of you and your friends throughout the school year.

Try these four beneficial ways to spend the school day without your phone. With these methods, students have noticed a positive change on campus without their phones.

“It’s kinda nice — it feels like we are all together and we are a community,” Bakhshandehpour said.