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A revelatory examination of why you’re feeling so worn out—and how to reimagine your relationship with your devices when you can’t unplug
Technology may make our lives easier, but it’s also a major cause of exhaustion. You know the feeling: The aimless scrolling. The constant notifications filling your screen. The sinking realization that no matter how many messages you respond to, how many posts you read, or how much data you sort through, you can never stay ahead of it. Unplugging is not a long-term solution. In today’s world, if you want to keep your job, participate in society, and maintain meaningful relationships, you can’t escape your many apps and devices.
The good news is that there is an achievable path to reducing your digital exhaustion. Paul Leonardi studies how real people can use technology in healthy ways. He offers realistic approaches that won’t fragment your attention and deplete your cognitive and emotional reserves. Many of the changes are simple yet surprisingly effective, like waiting longer to respond and making sure you’re using the right tool for your task. He also explains the emotional traps that lead us into dysfunctional relationships with our technology, and how to escape them.
With Leonardi as your guide, you can build stronger connections, be more creative and productive, and create the mental space to reclaim your energy and your life.
Report
An invitation to think more deeply about the ways in which we interact with our devices. . . . Helpful for managers, parents, and those thinking about how to manage their digital lives. Kirkus Reviews
Paul Leonardi makes a compelling case that digital exhaustion is a scourge that we can no longer ignore. Fortunately, he also provides a practical game plan for pushing back. It's time to reclaim our lives! Cal Newport, bestselling author of Slow Productivity and Deep Work
Digital Exhaustion is a must-read book for our times. Cogent. Compelling. Hopeful. Full of practical tips informed by science on how digital media can enrich our lives, as well as how to avoid the real harms. Parents will get valuable information on how to raise healthy kids in the twenty-first century. Anna Lembke, MD, author of Dopamine Nation
"This superb book develops a compelling, research-backed argument for the emotional and physical toll our overload of digital tools is taking on all of us and offers a healthier path forward." Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership, Harvard Business School, and author of Right Kind of Wrong
"In this wise and practical book, Paul Leonardi shares strategies for becoming smart managers of our digital lives. From paring down my apps to limiting the carpool texts, I came away with several new ideas for reclaiming my time and energy." Laura Vanderkam, author of Tranquility by Tuesday and 168 Hours
This gem is packed with research-based antidotes that will help us do better work, keep our sanity, and give the people we care about and love the attention they deserve. Robert I. Sutton, Stanford Professor Emeritus and author of The No Asshole Rule
