9:00am. The emails are flying, the texts are buzzing, and the messages from all of your various productivity apps are pinging off the hook. 9:00am is a lot different today than it was in the past, where the only notifications we received were by word of mouth or letter. But in our modern world, it can easily seem like we’re all on fast-forward. So how are we supposed to manage all of our daily, hourly, and minutely communications? Notifications.

Notifications were designed to help us out. According to common belief, it was first Blackberry who used push notifications for email in the early aughts, and then Apple was short to follow. The point was to make it easier to know when we needed to be reached, immediately. With a ding or a buzz, we were ready to react to any message as if it were an emergency.

But the fact is, fortunately, not every message, email, or text is an emergency. So why do we need to be notified immediately? Are we afraid that there is a 5-second response deadline for even the most banal of messages? We all have to just relax. And it’s for a very important reason.

Notifications, while seemingly convenient, are massive sources of distraction. According to a study by Gloria Mark of the University of California, Irvine mentioned in The New York Times, “a typical office worker gets only 11 minutes between each interruption, while it takes an average of 25 minutes to return to the original task after an interruption.”

Though the research on how well we can focus and produce quality work is less abundant, it makes sense that these constant interruptions inhibit our productivity. Whereas speed is a valuable skill these days, long-term quality and efficiency will be sacrificed.

We suggest putting your phone on “do not disturb” mode and designating times throughout the day to check it occasionally. Instead of checking your email every time your inbox fills, use the same strategy. The more stimuli that floods our minds, the less we can devote ourselves to one task at a time.

For more tips on how to increase your productivity, read this.

string(2770) "
9:00am. The emails are flying, the texts are buzzing, and the messages from all of your various productivity apps are pinging off the hook. 9:00am is a lot different today than it was in the past, where the only notifications we received were by word of mouth or letter. But in our modern world, it can easily seem like we're all on fast-forward. So how are we supposed to manage all of our daily, hourly, and minutely communications? Notifications.
Notifications were designed to help us out. According to common belief, it was first Blackberry who used push notifications for email in the early aughts, and then Apple was short to follow. The point was to make it easier to know when we needed to be reached, immediately. With a ding or a buzz, we were ready to react to any message as if it were an emergency. 
But the fact is, fortunately, not every message, email, or text is an emergency. So why do we need to be notified immediately? Are we afraid that there is a 5-second response deadline for even the most banal of messages? We all have to just relax. And it's for a very important reason.
Notifications, while seemingly convenient, are massive sources of distraction. According to a study by Gloria Mark of the University of California, Irvine mentioned in The New York Times, "a typical office worker gets only 11 minutes between each interruption, while it takes an average of 25 minutes to return to the original task after an interruption." 
Though the research on how well we can focus and produce quality work is less abundant, it makes sense that these constant interruptions inhibit our productivity. Whereas speed is a valuable skill these days, long-term quality and efficiency will be sacrificed. 
We suggest putting your phone on "do not disturb" mode and designating times throughout the day to check it occasionally. Instead of checking your email every time your inbox fills, use the same strategy. The more stimuli that floods our minds, the less we can devote ourselves to one task at a time. 
For more tips on how to increase your productivity, read this. 
"

Tax season can absolutely wreck your life for a few weeks, especially if the very thought of anything math-related makes you break out in a rash. (No? Just me?) But regardless of how overwhelming organizing all your receipts and deductions may seem, the process can be made a million times easier with the help of

There was a time when rolling into the office—even a few minutes late—could earn you a disapproving glare from your boss or colleagues.  But in today’s flexible hybrid world, where work happens everywhere from coffee shops to living room couches, being “on time” has lost its grip as the gold standard of professionalism. According to

By Massimo Tornambe Scott Disick, aka “Lord Disick” has gained fame and a devoted following since his appearances on the reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Disick is renowned for his expensive taste in clothes, cars, and women. The question that millions of fans are asking is: where did his fortune come from? Scott

This article includes affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, with no extra cost to you. Ever cringe at your annual spending habits, realizing you’re coughing out hundreds on streaming services that you never use? If so, you’re absolutely not alone. Just last month, I gasped when I saw how

​​The ugliest thing about credit card debt is that it’s plaguing millions of Americans all across the country. Hang-on, hang-on before you despair — it’s possible to pay off credit card debt by simply avoiding certain purchases that you’d normally give in to without a thought.  The latest social media trend that encourages people to

This article includes affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, with no extra cost to you. What are your financial goals for the New Year? Personally, I’m working to pay off my debt. From my student loans to creeping credit card debt, it’s tough to wrap my head around how

If you were to ask someone who they think the biggest superstar in the world is, there’s a good chance they’ll answer without a moment’s hesitation, “Beyoncé.” The Queen Bee has been effortlessly dropping record-breaking albums and chart-topping radio singles since her Destiny’s Child days, and she is not slowing down anytime soon.  Considering her

I’m embarrassed by the sheer amount of frivolous spending I did in 2024. It’s wild to me how, at one point, I thought it was perfectly acceptable to cough up over $200 on a Margarita mixer that I’ve used maybe twice. (What was I thinking? I don’t even like Margaritas!)   Every day, all these wholly

Trying to cancel your gym membership can be more tiring than actually attending that kickboxing class you keep skipping. Getting out of your gym contract can be so tough that people are going to great lengths to avoid paying any penalties. After going into debt living a lifestyle she couldn’t afford, this woman forged fake

In this month’s Money Journal, Celia is organized and disciplined yet enjoys her life “to the Max” Welcome to Money Journal, a monthly Paypath series that examines how Americans really handle their finances. Our participants keep a journal of their earnings, spending, and savings (if any), then share what it’s like to live in their