Notification Hygiene

Category: Digital Life & Technology
Tags: Focus, Digital Wellbeing

Overview

Living with default notifications is like trying to meditate in a casino.

Definition

Notification Hygiene is proactive curation. Environment design is infinite; willpower is finite.

The Science

Switch Cost Effect

It takes 23 minutes to return to deep focus after an interruption. Even hearing a buzz causes 'attentional leakage'.

The Practice

The Audit

  1. Nuclear Option: Turn all off.
  2. Re-entry: Only human/urgent.
  3. Ban: Social, News, Games.
  4. Badges off.

Common Pitfalls

  • FOMO.
  • Leaving red dot badges on.

Key Takeaway

Your attention is your life.