The Notification Trap
Every app wants your attention:
- News apps: Breaking news!
- Social media: Someone liked your post!
- Newsletters: You have 47 unread emails!
You're always reacting. Never choosing.
RSS: The Intentional Alternative
RSS doesn't push. You pull when ready.
No interruptions. No urgency. No FOMO.
You decide:
- When to check
- What to read
- How much time to spend
Why This Matters for Productivity
Notifications Kill Deep Work
Every ping costs 15-23 minutes of focus (University of California study).
If you get 10 notifications/day, that's 2.5+ hours of lost productivity.
Pull > Push for Learning
You learn more when you choose what to read (self-directed learning) vs. when content is pushed to you (passive consumption).
RSS = active reading Notifications = passive scrolling
Batching > Real-Time
Checking feeds 2x/day is more efficient than responding to 20 notifications.
You batch context switches. You control the schedule.
How to Make the Switch
1. Disable All Non-Essential Notifications
Keep: Calls, texts from family, critical alerts
Disable: News, social media, newsletters, app updates
2. Move Content to RSS
Every notification-driven app you disabled → add its RSS feed to your reader.
Example:
- Twitter notifications → Twitter RSS via nitter.net
- News apps → News site RSS feeds
- Email newsletters → Kill the Newsletter (email to RSS)
3. Set Reading Time Blocks
Schedule 2-3 times per day:
- Morning (15 min): Catch up on overnight content
- Lunch (10 min): Midday check
- Evening (20 min): Deep dive on saved articles
4. Use Email Digests for RSS
Don't want another app? Use any-feeds.com to send RSS feeds as daily email digests.
You get the content on your schedule without the interruptions.
The Results
After 1 week:
- Fewer interruptions
- More focus time
- Less anxiety
- Same information (or better)
After 1 month:
- You'll forget notifications existed
- Your productivity will spike
- Your stress will drop
Bottom Line
Notifications serve the platform. RSS serves you.
Make the switch. Your attention is too valuable to give away for free.