Turn Off Your Email Notifications. Seriously.

Here’s the single most impactful change you can make to regain control of your attention today: turn off your email notifications. All of them. Yes, really.

I know what you’re thinking – “But what if I miss something important?” Trust me, I’ve been there. Like many of you, I used to jump at every new email notification, believing that immediate responsiveness made me more productive. I was wrong.

The Real Cost of Email Notifications

Every time your phone buzzes or that little envelope appears in your corner, you’re not just getting information – you’re being robbed of your focus. Research from the University of California Irvine found that it takes an average of 23 minutes to fully regain focus after an interruption. Think about that. A single notification doesn’t just cost you a few seconds – it costs you nearly half an hour of deep work.

Even more striking, Microsoft Research discovered that workers take an average of 15 minutes to return to serious mental tasks after responding to incoming email or instant messages. They also found that people spend an average of 10 minutes processing each interruption before returning to their work.

The “Always On” Myth

We’ve somehow convinced ourselves that being constantly available via email is a professional necessity. But let’s be honest – email was designed as an asynchronous communication tool. It’s right there in the name: electronic mail. When was the last time you expected an immediate response to a physical letter?

What Happens When You Turn Off Notifications?

When I first disabled my email notifications, two things happened:

1. Nothing caught fire
2. I got more done
3. I was less stressed

Instead of reacting to every new message, I started checking email intentionally – usually three times a day. Morning to plan, midday to stay on track, and evening to wrap up. That’s it.

How to Make the Switch

Here’s the simple process:

1. On your phone: Go to settings, find your email app, and turn off all notifications
2. On your computer: Disable email notifications in your system preferences
3. Tell your team: Let people know that if something is truly urgent, they should call or message you directly
4. Trust the process: Give yourself at least two weeks to adapt before making any judgments

But What About Emergencies?

If something is genuinely urgent, email is the wrong tool anyway. Think about it – do firefighters use email to respond to emergencies? Do surgeons get notified about emergency surgeries via email? No. Real emergencies have different protocols.

The Challenge

I challenge you to try this for two weeks. Not one day, not three days – two full weeks. Long enough to break the habit of constant checking and experience what true focus feels like.

Remember, you’re not becoming less responsive – you’re becoming more intentional. You’re not ignoring your emails – you’re choosing when to process them effectively.

The most productive people I know don’t let their inbox control their day. They control their attention, and by extension, their time. It starts with turning off those notifications.

---

Originally published on Oi-U!, a side project I sunsetted after discovering a better solution already existed.