Digital Exhaustion

Brought to you by Penguin.

We all know the feeling of digital exhaustion.

The aimless scrolling, eyes glazing over at the screen. The feeling that no matter how many messages we respond to, how many posts we read, or how much data we sort through, we can never stay ahead of it.

Digital Exhaustion shows us how we can reimagine our relationship with our digital tools.

Digital transformation expert and Professor, Paul Leonardi, argues that our exhaustion comes from the “exhaustion triad;” that is, the way that our tools change how we pay attention, how we attribute behaviours and intentions to others, and how we experience our emotions.

By creating new habits around our use of technologies, we can set up boundaries so they stop depleting us so quickly. Follow these eight rules to regain control of your life:

• Rule #1: Stop Using Half Your Tools.
• Rule #2: Make a Match.
• Rule #3: Batch and Stream.
• Rule #4: Wait. One Hour. One Day. One Week.
• Rule #5: Don’t Assume.
• Rule #6: Always Be Intentional.
• Rule #7: Learn to See Around Corners.
• Rule #8: Be Here, Not There.

Discover the life-changing guide to using your digital devices in surprising new ways to help you beat exhaustion and find new sources of energy.

‘A practical game plan for pushing back. It's time to reclaim our lives!’ Cal Newport, bestselling author of Slow Productivity and Deep Work

© Paul Leonardi 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025