We have been “on” for 31 years straight. From the early cell phone IBM Simon in 1994 that was considered the first smartphone to the BlackBerry that demanded your thumbs, the takeover was slow. Then came the iPhone in 2007 and everything changed. Your phone rings, pings, buzzes 24/7 with alerts from your Email, Slack, WhatsApp. Alerts at all hours and we all react because we have that view of maybe this is an emergency.
We have accepted this as normal, but now people are tired; they are having a digital fatigue of always being connected. They want digital silence and a digital detox.
Always On Culture Feels Like Workplace Burnout
This isn’t minor burnout based on A Twilio YouGov survey of over 1,200 workers found that 47% prioritize distraction free blocks in their day. Which consist of real blocks, no email, no texts, no pinging devices.
That phrase “always on culture” isn’t an overstatement. Among 26–30-year-olds, 47% feel pressured to stay constantly online. 50% of 51–55-year-olds say notifications wreck their focus. The world has changed to digital first but more and more people want their focus back and are asking for distraction free work.
Digital Silence Is Turning Into a Demand for Workplace Mental Health
This is not the latest TikTok trend because 36% of workers ask for scheduled “digital silence” from their employer and they prefer to work for employers that offer regular digital downtime. People want space to think, relax and unwind. They even want to take back their weekends with 44% saying they would like to unplug on Fridays – Sunday to just start back the work week with clarity. This is tied closely to workplace mental health and the growing demand for work life balance.
Boundaries Are In Demand
Now there is nothing wrong with Slack, WhatsApp and other notifications but when your car, your TV, your email, and AI are embedded in every minute of your day there is no real room for breathing. It’s not just one ping but constant micro interruptions. It is as if every device is clamoring for your attention.
Science says the average knowledge worker gets pulled off task every three minutes, and it can take almost half an hour to refocus after each interruption. Tech’s promise was boost and support. Instead, it’s become the main culprit in anxiety, overwhelm, and workplace burnout.
What Can Be Done to Improve Employee Productivity
- Set core focus hours with no notifications, no alerts, no Slack pings.
- Block out “digital silence” across the team calendar especially on Fridays or Mondays.
- Use tools creatively: switch on “do not disturb,” batch message checking, or auto response outside focus time.
- Teach people this isn’t slacking, but productivity without pressure, deep work, and focus time.
Enjoy The Silence and Restore Work Life Balance
We have been taught to be constantly connected and being connected equals efficiency. It doesn’t. Real productivity comes from deep work without distraction. Maybe the burnout and anxiety people feel is the lack of focus and maybe digital silence and reduced screen time can fix that.