Personal electronic devices and the classroom have formed a nearly ubiquitous relationship, for despite their distracting nature, these are tools that can and do help the learning process.

TopHat, BlackBoard, AccessPlus and any other application used in the classroom setting can all contribute to making certain processes easier and more efficient.

But where should the line be drawn? Technology is often nothing more than a distraction in classrooms. Students check their digital devices — generally smartphones — an average of almost 12 times per class for non-class related reasons, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Education. Whether out of boredom or not, these distractions contribute to a less effective classroom and students who absorb less information from their professors.

Aside from these academic detractors, there are actual health benefits to unplugging from your devices every once in a while. Better sleep, less opportunity for mental health issues, better focus on tasks at hand and better memory are all reasons for putting down the cellphone and laptop, for at least a few hours every day.

Of course this is difficult for many of us. Our classwork, our jobs, our social lives, our entertainment and so much more often are wrapped up in our cellphones, laptops and tablets. It is nearly impossible for some to remove themselves from technology for any serious amount of time, and that’s simply a fact of our digital-age society. Nobody should be blamed for this.

But it is worth at least trying to unplug yourself as much as you can. Aside from the mental and physical health benefits mentioned, there’s a peacefulness of spirit to be gained in simply reading a book, going for a walk or having a quiet cup of tea. No mindless scrolling through social media feeds, no endless watching of YouTube videos or Netflix, no communication overdose from email or text messages. Sometimes it just feels good to leave the cellphone in its charger.

Interestingly enough, France recently enacted a piece of legislation referred to as the “right to disconnect” law. This law establishes the right of employees to not be responsible for work-related communication that occurs after hours. In other words, emails, phone calls and text messages from colleagues, or maybe even a boss, could be legally ignored once the employee is officially off duty.

This sort of law offers legal recourse and support to employees who wish to truly disconnect, or “unplug,” after their workday is over. And, while for many this is simply not feasible, nor even perhaps desired, there is still something to be said for removing oneself from the distractions and stimuli of technology for even a short period of time.