The Slack Context Switch Tax: Why Every Ping Costs 23 Minutes
Jari Mattlar•6 days ago•3 min read•
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Research shows it takes 23 minutes to refocus after an interruption. In Slack, interruptions happen every 11 minutes.
The science of interruption
UC Irvine research is clear: 23 minutes to fully refocus after each interruption. With Slack pings every 11 minutes, you never actually focus.
The attention residue problem
When you switch tasks, part of your attention stays behind. Stack enough residue and your brain fog becomes permanent.
Why "quick questions" aren't quick
That 30-second question doesn't cost 30 seconds. It costs 23 minutes of recovery time. Multiply by 20 pings daily.
Protecting deep work
Batch messages. Set focus hours. Use AI to filter urgent from noise. Stop treating every ping as an emergency.
Float AI's split inbox ensures only truly urgent messages interrupt you - everything else waits for your scheduled check-ins.