[Inu]

I think the general danger with computers is falling into a trap of repetitive behavior. In the age of letters you'd check your letter box maybe once a day. Now everywhere we have systems of immediate responses. It creates these loops of repetition where the constant stream of new data drives the user to be constantly aware of the possibility to respond and consume. What if letters could arrive at your home invisibly, at any time, without you knowing it? The problem with technology seems to be that when things become too easy, they often seem to acquire a potential of being destructive in a way that they hadn't before.

[Uberphallus]

That's the first thing I do when I get a new phone: set up mail and usual apps, disable notifications for most, notify every 4 hours for mail & others, though I usually leave instant messaging run regularly. Also my phone is most of the time in do not disturb, only calls go through.

At the beginning I kept checking, but eventually the need dies off, at least in my case. Anything actually important will be a call.

[avgDev]

Never really thought about this....but this would really increase my productivity. I get super annoyed when my wife keeps messaging me at work for example, but I also respond all the time.

Disabling notification for few hours at a time is a great idea. I will give it a shot.

[wayne_skylar]

I do the same thing. Calls go through as normal and messages get checked when I feel like it. There have been a few occasions when I miss out on something or whatever but it's way better my phone dictating when I give it attention rather than the other way around.