Study Shows Do Not Disturb Fails to End Phone-Checking, Prompting New Declutter Advice

Guides for digital decluttering recommend practical steps such as muting non‑essential notifications, setting up automated rules, and regularly tidying app screens to reduce cognitive load and improve focus.

Recent research, however, indicates that while features like Do Not Disturb or Focus Mode successfully silence alerts, they do not stop the habitual urge to check the phone. Users often continue to experience distraction, suggesting that simply silencing notifications is insufficient for lasting attention improvement.