According to the research, it's all about our perception of self. When we receive work messages or automated notifications, it reminds us that we're just another entry in a database, some random person in a maze. We all have a desire to be noticed and recognized. When we constantly see a small message on an iPhone all day that could have been sent to anyone on the planet, it makes us feel less important.When we receive messages from friends and family, it reinforces the idea that we matter to others, that our phones are there to help us be social and connect on a deeper level.

Why notifications can change your mood (The spotlight effect)

Here's my solution.For at least one day, pay attention to the notifications on your phone. Turn all unimportant notifications off.Next, turn off all email notifications which are unimportant off (like spam messages or mailing list mails which you've subscribed but not reading the mails anymore)Done?Okay continue with the next stash...

The solution

So, after turning off all of the computerized settings, the ones that are just automated reminds and not from actual living people, You'll notice that your reactions to the notifications started to change. You'll know now that the soft buzz or chime on your phone meant there was a human sending you a message, often a note about having lunch later or reminding you to pick up some milk on your way home from a coffee shop. It make you feel less stressed.😊

Your reactions to the notifications will start to change.

<div>Volume 0%</div>First, let's take a look at why notifications can change your mood.According to the research, it's all about our perception of self. When we receive work messages or automated notifications, it reminds us that we're just another entry in a database, some random person in a maze. We all have a desire to be noticed and recognized. When we constantly see a small message on an iPhone all day that could have been sent to anyone on the planet, it makes us feel less important.When we receive messages from friends and family, it reinforces the idea that we matter to others, that our phones are there to help us be social and connect on a deeper level.Here's my solution.For at least one day, pay attention to the notifications on your phone. I found I was getting notices about the weather (from an app called Sunshine, no less), spam, and other messages sent by email that were obviously broadcast to a large group, and Slack posts by a bot that told me arcane details like someone joining a new channel. I turned them all off. Then, I found a few more settings--one related to notifying me when my phone needs an update and another that told me when the battery is getting low.Next, I turned off all email notifications. To be honest, email is now an afterthought for me. I am buried under an avalanche of unimportant messages. Everyone I know and work with all day uses Slack, Facebook, or texting. Every email was just telling me I wasn't that important, even though there's a part of our brains that gets a small reward of dopamine when we open a positive, personal email. I never get those anymore.So, after turning off all of the computerized settings, the ones that are just automated reminds and not from actual living people, I did notice my reactions to the notifications started to change. I knew the soft buzz or chime on my phone meant there was a human sending me a message, often a note about having lunch later or reminding me to pick up some milk on my way home from a coffee shop. It made me feel less stressed.It's amazing how perception works. For one full day and evening, I started seeing my phone as less of an impersonal piece of hardware and more of a device for making social connections. It was as though Facebook, texting, and Slack came alive--I knew when my phone buzzed it meant there was an actual message from a living person. It worked.Will you try it? If you adjust notifications and find you are happier or less stressed, please <a href="mailto:jbrandon@inc.com" dir="ltr">send me an email</a> so we can compare notes. I'll probably read it later.<figcaption class="caption">Inc. helps entrepreneurs change the world. Get the advice you need to start, grow, and lead your business today. <a href="https://inc.com/subscribe?cid=dan905:660:s00:CTA_&amp;utm_source=paidDisplayOn&amp;utm_medium=edit%20article%20footer&amp;utm_campaign=dan905:660:s00:CTA_" dir="ltr"> Subscribe here</a> for unlimited access.</figcaption><div>Oct 4, 2017</div><figcaption class="caption">The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.</figcaption><div>Newsletter</div><h1>Inc. This Morning</h1>A daily news digest curated for those interested in entrepreneurship<form><button>Sign Up</button></form>

A new study says frequent computerized notifications can make you feel depressed. Here's the solution.

mentalhealth

Mental Health

First, let's take a look at why notifications can change your mood.

According to the research, it's all about our perception of self. When we receive work messages or automated notifications, it reminds us that we're just another entry in a database, some random person in a maze. We all have a desire to be noticed and recognized. When we constantly see a small message on an iPhone all day that could have been sent to anyone on the planet, it makes us feel less important.

When we receive messages from friends and family, it reinforces the idea that we matter to others, that our phones are there to help us be social and connect on a deeper level.

For at least one day, pay attention to the notifications on your phone. I found I was getting notices about the weather (from an app called Sunshine, no less), spam, and other messages sent by email that were obviously broadcast to a large group, and Slack posts by a bot that told me arcane details like someone joining a new channel. I turned them all off. Then, I found a few more settings--one related to notifying me when my phone needs an update and another that told me when the battery is getting low.

Next, I turned off all email notifications. To be honest, email is now an afterthought for me. I am buried under an avalanche of unimportant messages. Everyone I know and work with all day uses Slack, Facebook, or texting. Every email was just telling me I wasn't that important, even though there's a part of our brains that gets a small reward of dopamine when we open a positive, personal email. I never get those anymore.

So, after turning off all of the computerized settings, the ones that are just automated reminds and not from actual living people, I did notice my reactions to the notifications started to change. I knew the soft buzz or chime on my phone meant there was a human sending me a message, often a note about having lunch later or reminding me to pick up some milk on my way home from a coffee shop. It made me feel less stressed.

It's amazing how perception works. For one full day and evening, I started seeing my phone as less of an impersonal piece of hardware and more of a device for making social connections. It was as though Facebook, texting, and Slack came alive--I knew when my phone buzzed it meant there was an actual message from a living person. It worked.

Will you try it? If you adjust notifications and find you are happier or less stressed, please <a href="mailto:jbrandon@inc.com">send me an email </a>so we can compare notes. I'll probably read it later.

Inc. helps entrepreneurs change the world. Get the advice you need to start, grow, and lead your business today. <a href="https://inc.com/subscribe?cid=dan905:660:s00:CTA_&utm_source=paidDisplayOn&utm_medium=edit%20article%20footer&utm_campaign=dan905:660:s00:CTA_">Subscribe here </a>for unlimited access.

A daily news digest curated for those interested in entrepreneurship

This One Simple Change on Your Phone Will Make You Feel Happier

Why notifications can change your mood (The spotlight effect)

The solution

Your reactions to the notifications will start to change.

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