Quantum Distraction

The most damaging part of Slack isn't the notification—it's the mental simulation before you see a message.

Psychologists use "anticipatory anxiety" to describe worry about future events.

I see it as Schrödinger's fire drill—every unread ping exists in a quantum state of urgency and triviality until observed.

Research suggests our brains engage in "prospection"—mentally simulating potential futures before they occur.

This cognitive process consumes mental resources, adding to the documented costs of interruptions.

Anticipating messages may consume significant mental energy, alongside the effort of dealing with them.

What if our obsession with notification management misses the point?

Current solutions like status indicators and scheduled sends may not fully address the underlying psychological dynamics.

I don't have a solution—but do you?

What mental boundaries have you created to tame the simulation engine in your mind?