{
  "title": "Interruptions and 'attention residue': the hidden cost of multitasking",
  "url": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/interruptions-et-residu-attentionnel-le-cout-cache-du-multitache-en",
  "language": "en",
  "datePublished": "2026-08-27",
  "publisher": {
    "name": "SHR — Swiss Human Resources",
    "url": "https://www.shr.swiss",
    "address": "Esplanade de Pont-Rouge 9A, 1212 Lancy, Suisse"
  },
  "summary": "Switching tasks leaves part of attention on the previous one. Research has measured this effect and the related stress.",
  "section": "Research",
  "topic": "Time Management & Prioritisation",
  "place": {
    "name": "Neuchâtel",
    "region": "Neuchâtel",
    "country": "CH"
  },
  "keyPoints": [
    {
      "heading": "Attention residue",
      "point": "Sophie Leroy (2009, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes) shows experimentally that when a task is left unfinished, attention lingers on it and harms performance on the next task.."
    },
    {
      "heading": "The cost of interruptions",
      "point": "Gloria Mark, Daniela Gudith and Ulrich Klocke (2008, Proceedings of CHI) find interrupted people compensate by working faster, at the cost of more stress and frustration.."
    },
    {
      "heading": "The nuance",
      "point": "Both are lab studies with short tasks; they indicate a plausible mechanism, not a measure of real workplace cost."
    },
    {
      "heading": "The limit of common practice",
      "point": "Rewarding constant responsiveness as engagement without counting its attentional cost.."
    },
    {
      "heading": "A practical check in Neuchâtel",
      "point": "For three weeks, test two daily 90-minute slots without messaging and log important tasks completed; compare with the previous three weeks."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "authors": "Leroy",
      "year": "2009",
      "source": "Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes"
    },
    {
      "authors": "Klocke",
      "year": "2008",
      "source": "Proceedings of CHI"
    }
  ],
  "wordCount": 147,
  "image": "https://www.shr.swiss/img/blog-editorial-2026-08-27-en.jpg?v=4",
  "translations": {
    "fr": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/interruptions-et-residu-attentionnel-le-cout-cache-du-multitache",
    "en": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/interruptions-et-residu-attentionnel-le-cout-cache-du-multitache-en",
    "de": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/interruptions-et-residu-attentionnel-le-cout-cache-du-multitache-de",
    "it": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/interruptions-et-residu-attentionnel-le-cout-cache-du-multitache-it"
  },
  "relatedPages": {
    "programme": "https://www.shr.swiss/formation/gestion-du-temps/neuchatel",
    "city": "https://www.shr.swiss/formations-ville/neuchatel",
    "blog": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog"
  },
  "citationPolicy": "Citation autorisée avec mention « SHR — Swiss Human Resources » et lien vers l'article."
}