Before Breakfast Coping with digital exhaustion, with Paul Leonardi
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Oct 22, 2025 Paul Leonardi, a Professor at UC Santa Barbara and author of Digital Exhaustion, delves into the pervasive issue of digital fatigue. He explains how the overwhelming number of apps—averaging 35-40—creates a 'tool creep' that drains our attention and energy. Leonardi shares strategies for regaining control, such as auditing tools and choosing to delay responses to reduce urgency. He also emphasizes the importance of being present, highlights the potential of AI, and offers insights on how to communicate effectively to curb follow-ups.
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Digital Exhaustion As A Feeling
- Digital exhaustion feels like a tractor beam that pulls you into unproductive scrolling and clicking.
- It combines a sense of should-be-doing-more with inability to pull away and low energy.
Three Hidden Drivers Of Exhaustion
- Three drivers wear us out: attention switching, making inferences, and emotional peaks.
- Tools themselves aren't the problem; their effects on attention, inference, and emotion are.
Switching Costs Add Up
- Micro-decisions from switching apps and devices create cumulative cognitive load.
- Even switching between similar apps (e.g., Teams and Zoom) adds exhaustion through tiny interface decisions.