Nicholas Fitz Study Finds 3 Daily Notification Batches Beat Silence on Well-Being
Updated
Updated · maketecheasier.com · May 27
Nicholas Fitz Study Finds 3 Daily Notification Batches Beat Silence on Well-Being
1 articles · Updated · maketecheasier.com · May 27
Summary
A 2019 experiment led by Nicholas Fitz found smartphone users who received notifications in three scheduled batches a day reported better mood, attention, productivity and control than those getting alerts as usual.
Three-times-daily batching also outperformed turning notifications off entirely: the no-alert group reported more anxiety and stronger fear of missing out, suggesting predictability mattered more than total silence.
A separate 2016 study of 221 people over two weeks found keeping alerts on and phones nearby increased restlessness, hurt focus and lowered self-rated productivity versus keeping alerts off and phones farther away.
The studies frame notifications as designed interruptions rather than neutral messages, with the practical takeaway that users may benefit most from choosing when alerts arrive instead of accepting default always-on settings.