Email apnea is a term coined in 2007 by former

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation, multinational technology company, technology corporation producing Software, computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at th ...

executive

Linda Stone Linda Stone (born 1955) is a writer and consultant who coined the phrase "continuous partial attention" in 1998. Stone also coined "email apnea" in 2008 which means "a temporary absence or suspension of breathing, or shallow breathing, while doin ...

, meaning "a temporary absence or suspension of breathing, or shallow breathing, while doing

email Electronic mail (email or e-mail) is a method of exchanging messages ("mail") between people using electronic devices. Email was thus conceived as the electronic ( digital) version of, or counterpart to, mail, at a time when "mail" mean ...

Phenomenon

Email apnea refers to the tendency to hold one's breath while engaging in

activities, a term derived from

sleep apnea Sleep apnea, also spelled sleep apnoea, is a sleep disorder in which pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep occur more often than normal. Each pause can last for a few seconds to a few minutes and they happen many tim ...

, which involves repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. The term was coined by writer, speaker, and

executive

. This phenomenon can exacerbate anxiety, as it often occurs during high-stress situations, leading to increased physical tension and mental strain. According to psychologists, high achievers and perfectionists are especially prone to email apnea due to a tendency to seek perfection in every email they send, which increases the stress around it and demands more focus. Email apnea can result in

sleep disturbances A sleep disorder, or somnipathy, is a medical disorder of an individual's sleep patterns. Some sleep disorders are severe enough to interfere with normal physical, mental, social and emotional functioning. Polysomnography and actigraphy are tests ...

, decreased energy levels, and heightened feelings of depression and

anxiety Anxiety is an emotion which is characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil Turmoil may refer to: * ''Turmoil'' (1984 video game), a 1984 video game released by Bug-Byte * ''Turmoil'' (2016 video game), a 2016 indie oil tycoon video ...

. In 2007, Stone observed that she found herself holding her breath while answering emails, inhaling in anticipation but failing to exhale as emails arrived. To explore this, she conducted informal research by having friends and colleagues to respond to emails while monitoring their heart rates. She discovered that 80% of participants exhibited what she termed "email or screen apnea," characterized by shallow or suspended breathing during screen use. The remaining 20%, including trained professionals like a cellist and athletes, showed normal breathing patterns. To counteract email or screen apnea, some psychologists have suggested sitting comfortably in an upright posture while focusing on breathing without control. Individuals should observe the sensations of inhalation and exhalation, redirecting attention to the breath if distracted. After three breaths, it is beneficial to stand, stretch and move briefly. Regular movement and stretching throughout the day are also recommended to reduce tension and enhance mindfulness.

References

{{Reflist Breathing abnormalities

Phenomenon

See also

References