Context Switch Calculator

See exactly how many minutes and dollars interruptions cost you every day.

Context Switch Calculator

Enter how many times you get interrupted per day and your hourly rate to see the true cost.

Interruptions per day:

Your hourly rate ($):

How it works

Based on the 23-minute attention residue research

Research shows that after an interruption, it takes an average of 23 minutes to fully return to the original task. This is called attention residue — part of your brain stays stuck on the interruption even after you switch back. This calculator multiplies your interruptions by 23 minutes to show the real daily and annual cost, both in time and money.

Why this matters

Interruptions are not free. They cost 23 minutes each.

Most people think an interruption costs 2-3 minutes. In reality, the cognitive cost is closer to 23 minutes because of attention residue. For ADHD brains, interruptions hit even harder because the dopamine from the interruption is more appealing than returning to the original task. Seeing the math makes it real — and makes it easier to defend your focus time.