{
  "schema_version": 1,
  "topic_id": "attention-focus",
  "topic_title": "Attention & Focus",
  "domain_id": "focus-action",
  "domain_title": "Focus & Action",
  "ontology_status": "growth-gap",
  "baseline_status": "growth-gap",
  "question": "What kinds of interventions reliably reduce avoidable task switching and help people sustain useful attention in everyday work?",
  "evidence_target": "Prefer randomized or controlled field/lab evidence that separates subjective focus from task performance.",
  "guardrail": "Do not turn one timer length, blocker, or notification setting into a universal optimum.",
  "stage": "ready-for-resolution",
  "stage_label": "Ready for resolution review",
  "stage_summary": "A reviewed Evidence Decision and trusted Topic protocol exist, but no explicit closure record exists yet.",
  "canonical_url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/research/gaps/attention-focus/",
  "research_queries": [
    {
      "id": "focus-attention-switching",
      "query": "task switching interruptions sustained attention workplace systematic review",
      "risk_flags": []
    },
    {
      "id": "focus-interruption-recovery",
      "query": "task interruption resumption planning attention residue workplace experiment review",
      "risk_flags": []
    },
    {
      "id": "work-context-switching",
      "query": "context switching interruptions knowledge work performance attention systematic review",
      "risk_flags": []
    },
    {
      "id": "focus-notification-interruptions",
      "query": "communication notifications interruptions workplace performance strain experiment systematic review",
      "risk_flags": []
    }
  ],
  "candidates": [
    {
      "id": "crossref:10.1002/1348-9585.12408",
      "title": "Effects of task interruptions caused by notifications from communication applications on strain and performance",
      "status": "support-existing",
      "publication_date": "2023-06-06",
      "reference_url": "https://doi.org/10.1002/1348-9585.12408"
    },
    {
      "id": "crossref:10.1016/j.chb.2019.07.016",
      "title": "Batching smartphone notifications can improve well-being",
      "status": "propose-protocol",
      "publication_date": "2019-12-01",
      "reference_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.07.016"
    },
    {
      "id": "crossref:10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf017",
      "title": "Blocking mobile internet on smartphones improves sustained attention, mental health, and subjective well-being",
      "status": "propose-protocol",
      "publication_date": "2025-02-18",
      "reference_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf017"
    },
    {
      "id": "crossref:10.1287/orsc.2017.1184",
      "title": "Tasks Interrupted: How Anticipating Time Pressure on Resumption of an Interrupted Task Causes Attention Residue and Low Performance on Interrupting Tasks and How a Ready-to-Resume Plan Mitigates the Effects",
      "status": "propose-protocol",
      "publication_date": "2018-05-11",
      "reference_url": "https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2017.1184"
    },
    {
      "id": "crossref:10.1371/journal.pone.0272460",
      "title": "Give me a break! A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of micro-breaks for increasing well-being and performance",
      "status": "support-existing",
      "publication_date": "2022-08-31",
      "reference_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272460"
    },
    {
      "id": "pubmed:21688924",
      "title": "Consider it done! Plan making can eliminate the cognitive effects of unfulfilled goals",
      "status": "support-existing",
      "publication_date": "2011-10-01",
      "reference_url": "https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024192"
    }
  ],
  "evidence_decisions": [
    {
      "id": "microbreak-wellbeing-performance-boundary-2022",
      "decision": "support-existing",
      "reviewed_at": "2026-08-22",
      "source_title": "Give me a break! A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of micro-breaks for increasing well-being and performance",
      "ledger_url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/evidence/microbreak-wellbeing-performance-boundary-2022/"
    },
    {
      "id": "mobile-internet-block-attention-boundary-2025",
      "decision": "propose-protocol",
      "reviewed_at": "2026-08-27",
      "source_title": "Blocking mobile internet on smartphones improves sustained attention, mental health, and subjective well-being",
      "ledger_url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/evidence/mobile-internet-block-attention-boundary-2025/"
    },
    {
      "id": "notification-batching-boundary-2019",
      "decision": "propose-protocol",
      "reviewed_at": "2026-09-11",
      "source_title": "Batching smartphone notifications can improve well-being",
      "ledger_url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/evidence/notification-batching-boundary-2019/"
    },
    {
      "id": "notification-blocking-workday-boundary-2023",
      "decision": "support-existing",
      "reviewed_at": "2026-09-11",
      "source_title": "Effects of task interruptions caused by notifications from communication applications on strain and performance",
      "ledger_url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/evidence/notification-blocking-workday-boundary-2023/"
    },
    {
      "id": "ready-to-resume-interruption-boundary-2018",
      "decision": "propose-protocol",
      "reviewed_at": "2026-09-11",
      "source_title": "Tasks Interrupted: Ready-to-Resume Plan",
      "ledger_url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/evidence/ready-to-resume-interruption-boundary-2018/"
    }
  ],
  "trusted_protocols": [
    {
      "slug": "90-30-focus-rest-schedule",
      "title": "Alternate Focused Work With Real Breaks",
      "url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/life-os/90-30-focus-rest-schedule/",
      "evidence_status": "practical"
    },
    {
      "slug": "batch-non-urgent-notifications",
      "title": "Batch Non-Urgent Notifications Instead of Receiving Them All Day",
      "url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/life-os/batch-non-urgent-notifications/",
      "evidence_status": "reviewed"
    },
    {
      "slug": "phase-transition-ritual-tracker",
      "title": "Create a Clear Handoff Between Two Activities",
      "url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/life-os/phase-transition-ritual-tracker/",
      "evidence_status": "practical"
    },
    {
      "slug": "refocus-present-stop-mind-wandering",
      "title": "Deliberate Attention Switching with Everyday Sounds",
      "url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/life-os/refocus-present-stop-mind-wandering/",
      "evidence_status": "reviewed"
    },
    {
      "slug": "ready-to-resume-plan",
      "title": "Leave a Ready-to-Resume Note Before You Switch Tasks",
      "url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/life-os/ready-to-resume-plan/",
      "evidence_status": "reviewed"
    }
  ],
  "resolution": null,
  "coverage": {
    "id": "attention-focus",
    "title": "Attention & Focus",
    "domain_id": "focus-action",
    "status": "growth-gap",
    "entries": 5,
    "research_candidates": 6
  }
}
