Device ‘notifications’ are really ‘interruptions’

Academics are bombarded by a constant stream of emails, Teams messages, calendar alerts, and smartphone notifications. These digital disruptions make it difficult to maintain focus, work productively, and make progress on our most important research and writing.

You may try to manage these notifications by adjusting your settings, silencing devices, or trying to block out the pings and buzzes. But the core problem here isn’t really the notifications themselves – it’s the interruptions they cause. The truth is, “notifications” is a deceptively benign term. When your phone lights up or makes a sound, it’s not just passively informing you of something – it’s actively pulling your attention away from what you’re doing.

“Notification” is a dishonest euphemism, anyway. The correct word is “interruption”, because it prompts the right question: how often do I want my phone to interrupt me?

Harford, T. (2022). Your phone’s notification settings and the meaning of life.

Impact of device notifications

Here’s how they make the problem worse for busy academics:

• Fragmented attention: Every time you’re pulled away from a task to check a notification, it takes time and mental effort to regain your focus and get back into the flow of your work.
• Diminished productivity: Repeated interruptions throughout the day add up quickly, significantly reducing the amount of time you’re able to spend in deep, concentrated work.
• Increased stress and anxiety: The constant state of alert and the fear of missing something important creates a sense of being overwhelmed and unable to control your own schedule.
• Neglect of important work: The most meaningful and impactful parts of an academic’s job – research, writing, and creative thinking – often get shoved aside in favour of reactively responding to a flood of messages and alerts.

Managing interruptions

Instead of trying to manage device notifications, try to manage device interruptions.

Start by taking an audit of the notifications on your devices and eliminate anything that isn’t essential. Then be intentional about setting boundaries around when and how you’ll allow your focus to be interrupted.

By reframing the problem as one of interruptions rather than notifications, you can regain control over your time and attention. This will enable you to work more productively, reduce stress, and make meaningful progress on the work that truly matters.