Push notifications broke their promise

Push notifications were supposed to make us more productive.

They promised we’d get more done as long as we never missed a beat. Technology would help us respond at a moments notice to every new email and text message.

But is that true?

Are the friendly chimes, soft buzzes, and pop-up bars really helping you get more of your best work done?

I suspect not.

Multi-tasking is a myth. So if we’re honest with ourselves, I think it’s fair to say that most push notifications are nothing more than a convenient distraction. A welcomed break from doing the difficult work in front of us.

Now they’ve become such a ubiquitous part of our digital experience that I fear many no longer recognize how disruptive they really are.

They chip away at our concentration. Each represents a micro-interruption that together compound until our ability to focus is as fragile as spring ice.

I’ve heard *push* notifications better described as *pull* notifications. They pull us away from the task at hand.

But if you want to do your best work, you’ll need to create an environment that sets you up for success.

That means turning off the push notifications, silencing your phone, and closing the email tab in your browser.

Trust me. Whatever it is you think you’re going to miss out on—it can wait.

When we limit the amount of things that can compete for our attention, we maximize our ability to contribute something meaningful.

And at the end of the day, that’s what being productive is all about.