Disable app notifications that produced no valuable action…
For every app on every device, apply the 30-day action criterion: if no notification in the past month caused an action you're glad you took, disable notifications for that app immediately.
When This Fires
- During a quarterly digital hygiene review of your devices
- When you notice your phone buzzing frequently with nothing actionable
- After installing a new app (set a 30-day review reminder)
- Any time you feel overwhelmed by notification volume
Common Failure Mode
Keeping notifications enabled "just in case" — because once in a while a notification is useful. But the cost calculation is clear: if one useful notification per month requires tolerating 1,000 noise notifications, you're paying an enormous attention tax for marginal value. The useful notification would have been discovered within hours through intentional checking anyway.
The Protocol
(1) Open notification settings on each device. (2) For each app with notifications enabled, ask: "In the last 30 days, did a notification from this app cause me to take an action I'm glad I took?" (3) If no → disable all notifications for that app immediately. (4) If uncertain → disable and see if you miss anything. (5) Repeat monthly. Your notification list should shrink to 5-8 genuinely valuable sources.