Popups hurt productivity
Dec 7th, 2009 by Ryan Meyer
Multitaskers beware: On-screen notification pop-ups and visual alerts designed to increase productivity can actually end up costing you time in the long run, according to a new study.
“Email notifications and instant messages all cause a break in focus of the task in hand, even if they are attended to only very briefly,” said study author Helen Hodgetts of the University of Cardiff in the UK.
To update Outlook 2007, open the Tools menu and click Options. Push the Email Options button and then the Advanced Email Options button. In the dialog box that opens, the second paragraph contains the relevant options. In accordance with this study, our advice is to uncheck Display a New Mail Desktop Alert option. You may want to check Play a sound if it will not distract you or those around you.