Hybrid work, which typically includes one to four days of remote work, has become the most common model among companies. This flexible schedule has led teams to rely heavily on messaging apps like Microsoft Teams and Slack for communication, even when they’re in the same office.
However, technological dependence is causing a concerning issue known as “ping fatigue.” This phenomenon refers to the mental exhaustion that results from being constantly interrupted by a relentless stream of notifications and messages that compete for your attention, ultimately disrupting your concentration.
Always Connected, but Not Always Productive
Frequent interruptions while trying to complete tasks not only hinder essential focus but also significantly impact productivity. Regaining concentration can take up to 15 minutes, which prolongs the time needed to finish tasks. This cycle of constant task-switching can lead to unnecessary exhaustion and stress.
According to Hannah Yardley, chief people and culture officer at Achievers, an HR software company, this problem is closely tied to “always-on anxiety.” The term comes from the constant signals that devices send to one another to check if they’re online.
Always-on anxiety occurs when employees feel the need to be constantly available, working without breaks, and ready to respond to emails and queries from colleagues, even those located in different time zones.
“It’s a stressful time for everyone in the workplace. Employees need to know they’re supported, and HR departments and employers need to ensure their teams don’t feel the pressure to constantly be online,” Yardley said. “When employees are encouraged to practice work-life balance, positive results come naturally,” she added.
Strategies to Regain Control
Several strategies are emerging to mitigate the impact of ping fatigue on personal productivity.
James Ware, a consultant specializing in the neuroscience of attention, recommends implementing what he calls “bath notifications.” This approach involves scheduling blocks of time to check messages at fixed intervals. For example, you could set your devices to activate “monk mode” (periods of uninterrupted focus) while working on highly demanding tasks. You could then schedule specific times between tasks to check messages and emails received during that period.
Another effective technique is the “Pomodoro technique,” which involves working for 25 minutes with complete focus and without interruptions, followed by a five-minute break to check notifications. Ware explains, “Breaking work into focus blocks followed by short breaks aligns with the brain’s natural rhythms for attention.”
This resonates with Tony Schwartz, CEO of The Energy Project and co-author of The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working: Fueling the Four Needs that Energize Great Performance. Schwartz views work sessions as sprint races. He advocates applying all your energy to a task for a short period, followed by a break, rather than working for several hours on the same task.
This method boosts productivity by giving the brain a necessary pause between tasks. It also reduces the stress that comes with an unending flow of messages.
Using Technology to Focus
While technology can contribute to constant interruptions, it also offers tools to minimize them.
Corina Leslie, PR manager at email verification platform ZeroBounce, told WorkLife that she uses an app to block notifications for 45-minute intervals. Her daily goal is to achieve three hours of deep-focus work. “I don’t always hit it, but when I do, it feels like an accomplishment, and I’ve noticed my productivity has really improved,” Leslie said.
Both Windows 11 and macOS have built-in focus modes that silence notifications for a designated period. Utilizing these tools can help you avoid unwanted distractions and maintain concentration without the need to silence apps one by one.
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