The option to stream movies and TV shows is among the many conveniences our digital age offers. That said, anyone who owns a smartphone knows that convenience can come at a cost. Our tech tools might have made life easier in various ways, but they’ve also made us more prone to distraction and prevented many of us from living in the moment.

Streaming likely doesn’t help matters. Research indicates streaming content might prevent us from focusing on or even finishing the content we start.

We’ve already covered several science-backed benefits of physical media. A dive into the research indicates another benefit of discs, records, and printed books may be that they cause us to actually finish the art and entertainment we’re trying to enjoy. Consider the following points:

It’s surprisingly common for people to skip songs they stream

Services like Spotify might prevent us from engaging with music

When it comes to watching shows and movies, I definitely prefer DVDs and Blu-rays. That’s not to say I eschew all streaming platforms. I thoroughly understand and appreciate that streaming has its place. In fact, I make a point of highlighting streaming platforms strong enough to appeal even to physical media devotees.

As a lifelong music nerd, that means I also have a Spotify account. Being able to access that much music whenever I want is hard to pass up.

However, it should be noted that research suggests streaming may not offer the best way to enjoy music. In one study, researchers found that people who stream music only listen to about half of the songs they start all the way through. They also discovered that users of music streaming services skipped approximately one quarter of the songs they started within the first five seconds of starting them. In addition, at least one survey reveals that today’s average music fan may be less inclined to listen to a full album all the way through than they would in the past.

The interface of a streaming platform makes skipping to new music very easy. Compare that to listening to a vinyl record, where just setting up the album is a minor process. Because you’ve taken the time to intentionally select a record and enjoy it, you may be less likely to skip around than you would if you were using a streaming service.The fact that skipping between tracks and albums is more difficult with physical media can also contribute to this shift in behavior.

That said, the potential result may be for the best. When you can’t skip songs as easily, you’re forced to slow down and genuinely appreciate the music you’re listening to. Who knows, you might even finish a full album the way the artist intended.

Streaming may lead to more phone usage

Using your phone while streaming can be extremely distracting

If you want to focus on what you’re watching, it’s best to keep your phone in the other room. The research is pretty clear on this. In a study on the differences in behavior and attention between people watching TV with access to computers and people watching TV without such access, researchers found that the average participant who had access to a computer switched their attention between the TV and computer more than four times per minute when supposedly watching TV. It’s easy to understand how this can prevent someone from truly enjoying (and finishing) what they’re watching.

As of yet, no one has conducted a proper study on how physical media can guard against this type of distraction. That said, you might be able to imagine ways it can serve this purpose.

For instance, the ritual of choosing a piece of content and playing it that’s associated with physical media is one of the key reasons some people enjoy the physical media experience over streaming. Proceeding through that ritual is an intentional process that gives you the opportunity to step back and decide to put the phone away. On the other hand, if you’re just casually scrolling through shows to watch on a streaming service, you might be more likely to keep the phone nearby. This can stop you from paying attention to and finishing a piece of content.

Switching to new content adds to boredom

Streaming can make content seem too boring to finish

Some people may appreciate the way streaming lets them easily skip around and find the content they want. They might understandably assume that this option can help them guard against being stuck consuming content that bores them. However, researchers have found that skipping between videos actually contributes to boredom, while focusing on a single piece of content can boost enjoyment.

When you’re streaming content, you can switch to something else with the clicks of a few buttons. This can cause you to feel even more bored than you already were. If you’re in a state of boredom, you may not be likely to focus on actually completing a piece of content. With physical media, where switching to new content is more of a chore, you might settle in and actually engage.

Having an immersive experience is part of the joy involved in watching a movie or show, listening to an album, or reading a book. Unfortunately, in the digital era, streaming services and other such factors may be robbing us of these immersive experiences. Physical media could provide a way to refocus, so that you actually finish the content you start.