A cell phone at the side, computer in lap, browser tabs open to Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, a book sitting on a table nearby — sound familiar?

Technological distractions are an inescapable part of the digital age, but that doesn’t mean they’re a guaranteed good. Ever since the dawn of higher education there have always been at least a million “more interesting” things for students to do than study, and it’s never been easier to procrastinate than into today’s technologically-driven, media-obsessed world.

After all, you’ll get to that reading eventually, right after you read this text, watch that viral video, retweet the latest inappropriate Rick Santorum election declaration and check out what other random acts of kindness Good Guy Greg is performing on Grand Valley Memes.

So it’s been three hours and you still have nothing to show for it? We hate to be ‘that guy,’ but maybe you should have just done the reading.

It’s hard not to get distracted when so many things are competing for our attention, and no one is suggesting that students should wholeheartedly embrace the old Ben Franklin adage that we should never put off until tomorrow what we can do today, because for most of us, that kind of promise in a fast-paced college environment is reserved only for hopeless New Year resolutions and things you tell your grandmother on the phone. It’s OK to take a break, but it’s not really a break until you’ve done some real work.

College isn’t cheap, and we don’t pay thousands upon thousands of dollars each semester to let Words with Friends lure us away from that other great game, Words Our Professors Will Grade. As we all gripe about every time tuition is due, we pay a premium to come here, learn and get a degree. So we might as well make the most of it.

If that means turning off your cellphone before class instead of texting under the table, then buck up, power down and pay attention.

So log out of Facebook, stop browsing Reddit, que up your Tumblr. When you get back, Jenna Marbles will still be complaining, rage comics will still be raging and fame-hungry celebs will still be tweeting. The only difference is that you’ll be a little bit smarter while they do it.