Why Muting Your Work Notifications Could Be The Healthiest Thing You Do This Year

• Constant digital interruptions lead to task-switching, which diminishes concentration and raises stress levels; while silencing notifications helps individuals maintain better mental health, achieve clearer focus, and improve overall work performance.
• Effective notification management is essential to ensure that the benefits of fewer interruptions outweigh the potential risks of delayed communication or disengagement.
• A global movement is emerging to enforce work-life boundaries through “Right to Disconnect” laws. These proposals are supported by employees and mental health advocates but opposed by some business lobbies due to concerns over flexibility and productivity.

The link between notifications and wellbeing is well-documented: too many digital tools and platforms can be a significant source of distraction and stress for employees. 

A 2019 RescueTime study found that the average worker is interrupted or switches tasks every 6 minutes — leading to just 2 hours and 48 minutes of productive work daily. This frequent task-switching can considerably diminish focus and productivity. 

Additionally, research by Gloria Mark from the University of California, Irvine, reveals that frequent interruptions significantly increase stress and frustration, which doubles error rates and heightens fatigue and anxiety levels among workers.

While it may feel a bit like self-sabotage at first, muting work notifications could be the single most beneficial action to take to succeed in the future of work. 

Work notifications can be distracting and stressful

Those stressful constant interruptions can lead to a loss of valuable time. Studies indicate that about 77% of employees and 71% of managers experience significant distractions and stress from notifications and digital tools. However, silencing notifications on platforms such as Gmail and Slack can significantly reduce stress and improve focus. 

Constant notifications force the brain to switch between tasks frequently. This process can disrupt concentration and trigger a stress response, leading to an increased heart rate and anxiety. 

By muting notifications, individuals can avoid the practice of set-shifting (flitting between tasks) and focus on only one task at a time. Muting notifications in this way reduces stress, increases productivity, and lowers the likelihood of making mistakes at work. 

Over time, this can lead to better mental health, reduced physical tension, and improved sleep quality.

In a recent Allwork.Space podcast, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith explored the impact of burnout at work and offered strategies to improve mental wellbeing. She explained the importance of muting notifications as a practical step to reduce sensory overload, which helps individuals disconnect from constant digital stimuli and discover mental clarity and relaxation. 

Dr. Dalton-Smith said that burnout often affects the most engaged employees, who are more likely to overextend themselves. Addressing this issue requires proactive organizational measures and strategies tailored to employee needs.

Rhonda Y. Williams, CEO and Chief Vision Officer at Above the Grind Leadership (a global leadership training and executive coaching organization), told Allwork.Space that muting notifications is a nuanced issue. Data indicates that minimizing interruptions can enhance productivity and reduce stress and anxiety. 

However, changing workplace culture to accommodate this requires clear communication and policy changes. Williams explained how this process involves setting guidelines and ensuring that employees do not hesitate to silence work notifications for fear of negative repercussions (such as job insecurity or financial penalties) despite the proven benefits of productivity and wellbeing.

Madeline Grecek, Senior Manager and People Enabler at Remote, provided valuable insights regarding the practices her organization has adopted to enhance employee wellbeing. She told Allwork.Space that her company manages notifications and embraces asynchronous work (a collaborative work style that allows employees to work without the need for real-time interaction) by doing these things:

• Muting Notifications: Employees are encouraged to mute notifications outside work hours to support family time and maintain work-life balance.
• “Do Not Disturb” Modes: The “do not disturb” notification minimizes disruptions during focus periods and after hours.
• Custom Notification Settings: Allows employees to receive only high-priority alerts during work hours.
• Quiet Hours: Implemented in digital tools such as Slack or email to silence notifications during specific times for rest.

According to Grecek, this approach has positively impacted employee wellbeing and enables employees to concentrate on tasks without constant interruptions. Remote has benefited from these strategies in that responses have become more considered, the pressure for quick decisions has reduced, and the company has observed improved outcomes (work-life balance and wellbeing), and productivity.

Potential Drawbacks to Muting Work Notifications

While muting work notifications can reduce stress and improve focus, it has some potential drawbacks. The fact that breaking the cycle of distraction remains challenging, indicates the need for a balanced approach to muting notifications. One concern is the risk of missing significant messages, leading to delayed responses or feeling disconnected from the workplace. 

Delayed replies can be particularly problematic in fast-paced work environments where timely communication is essential. 

Additionally, some individuals may experience anxiety from the fear of missing out on critical information, which can undermine the intended benefits of muting notifications.

Some individuals may experience anxiety from the fear of missing out on critical information, which can undermine the intended benefits of muting notifications.

Another concern is anxiety around the perception of being unresponsive or rude by not responding straight away. Furthermore, muting notifications can result in a feeling of disconnection from the workplace and reduced engagement in real-time conversations, hindering collaboration and timely responses. 

There is also the risk of forgetting to unmute notifications, causing individuals to miss important deadlines, updates, and discussions.

Some platforms, such as Gmail, may move muted threads out of the inbox, making them easy to overlook unless specifically searched for. Similarly, muting notifications in apps such as Slack can cause messages to go unnoticed, potentially affecting team dynamics and project outcomes.

While the fear of missing out can initially cause anxiety, experts suggest this fear is often unfounded and can be managed by gradually adjusting to the new norm of checking messages on one’s own terms.  

With careful management to avoid the potential pitfalls, muting can offer substantial relief from constant interruptions.

What can be done about employer expectations?

California is considering ground-breaking legislation known as the Right to Disconnect Bill (AB 2751), which aims to grant employees the right to disconnect from work-related communications outside assigned hours. This proposed law is part of a broader movement to address the growing issue of blurred boundaries between work and personal life.

Introduced by California Assembly Member Matt Haney, the bill would mandate employers to establish clear policies on work hours, explicitly prohibiting non-emergency work communication outside these hours. The legislation (if passed) would apply to non-exempt and exempt salaried employees — significantly impacting business operations, particularly in industries with non-traditional working hours. Companies found in violation could face fines, reinforcing the need for strict adherence to the new rules.

The progress of this bill is motivated by concerns about the wellbeing of employees. By legally enforcing boundaries between work and personal time, the bill aims to enhance employee wellbeing. This initiative resonates with a broad base of employees, with 83% supporting the bill, indicating a widespread desire for clear work-life boundaries.

While the bill has garnered significant support from employees and mental health advocates, it also faces opposition from business groups – for instance, the California Chamber of Commerce. These groups argue that the legislation could complicate operations, particularly where flexible and remote working arrangements are becoming the norm. 

They express concerns about the potential for legal complexities and the impact on productivity. If enacted, California would join thirteen other countries, including Australia, France, and Canada, that have implemented similar laws. However, the future of this legislation remains uncertain ­— causing it to fail to advance past the Committee stage in 2024.

Global Trends: Legal Obligations and the Right to Disconnect

While California is still in deliberation, nations worldwide are adopting practices and legal measures to help workers regain control over their time and focus. 

Nations worldwide are adopting practices and legal measures to help workers regain control over their time and focus. 

In 2017, France was one of the first countries to introduce a Right to Disconnect law for companies with over 50 employees. The French approach has positively impacted workers’ mental wellbeing by promoting a distinct separation between work and personal life. The cultural tendency in France to strictly separate work and personal life further reinforces the effectiveness of this legislation.

The specifics of the right to disconnect vary by company size, with larger firms needing to negotiate with works councils or unions and smaller ones providing general guidelines — while non-compliance can lead to hefty fines or prison sentences for senior management. 

Although this law has faced challenges, particularly with the rise of remote work, it has set a precedent that other countries are beginning to follow.

In the U.K., the Labour government is advocating for a right-to-switch-off policy. The proposed legislation is part of a broader push for flexible work policies under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. It includes support for remote work and aims to combat presenteeism (which often leads to decreased productivity and demotivation). 

Despite concerns from some business leaders about potential negative impacts on productivity, the U.K. government is committed to introducing codes of practice to help businesses implement these changes effectively.

Australia has recently joined the ranks of countries with disconnection legislation. The new legislation protects employees from repercussions for not responding to work communications outside of regular hours, while allowing for reasonable contact in emergencies. Although widely welcomed by employees, some employers have raised concerns about potential confusion and reduced flexibility.

These legal frameworks should enhance work-life balance and contribute to a broader cultural transition towards valuing personal wellbeing over constant connectivity.