Productivity
Context Switch Cost Calculator
Every time you jump tasks, tabs, or tools, your brain pays a refocus tax. Estimate how much time that costs you per day and per year.
Results
Enter how often you switch tasks or tabs each day to see your refocus tax.
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Frequently asked questions
- Why 15 minutes per switch?
- Studies on task switching and attention residue suggest recovery often takes 10–25 minutes depending on complexity. We use 15 as a practical daily average.
- Is context switching ever good?
- Planned breaks and intentional task changes are fine. The cost comes from reactive switching — notifications, pings, and "quick checks" that fragment flow.
- How do I reduce switches?
- Batch email and messages, use one-tab rules, time-block your calendar, and put your phone out of reach during deep work blocks.