Before Breakfast Reduce your toggling tax
May 5, 2025
Explore how frequent task switching, known as toggling tax, can diminish productivity. Discover research-backed strategies to minimize distractions and enhance focus at work. Learn the importance of scheduled communication times to combat mental fatigue and boost overall efficiency. This insightful discussion emphasizes the benefits of intentional attention management for better working habits.
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The Toggling Tax Insight
- Frequent switching between apps wastes time and reduces productivity by making you reorient repeatedly.
- This "toggling tax" adds up to nearly four hours lost per week for an average worker.
Reduce Your Toggling Tax
- Reduce toggling by batching similar tasks and postponing unnecessary app switching.
- Turn off notifications and minimize apps to avoid distractions and preserve focus.
Manage Interruptions and Placeholders
- Set team agreements to limit interruptions, such as avoiding messages unless urgent.
- Use placeholders like TK or brackets to mark data to add later, gathering info in one go.