People are likely to experience more stress and overload because of the sudden and unexpected increased use of digital tools to manage workflow. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these challenges are exacerbated because of the overall uncertainty of the situation, issues related to childcare and other duties, and the lack of physical social contact. Although working from home can generally increase flexibility, it comes with various social and psychological challenges (e.g., Shepherd-Banigan, Bell, Basu, Booth-LaForce, & Harris, 2016). Due to social distancing measures and lockdowns, many must work from home, relying on videoconferencing (e.g., Zoom, Skype) or text-based work management and communication tools (e.g., Slack, Trello, e-mail) as substitutes for in-person interaction and information access. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted people's lives in many regards. However, for users of these tools, the number of digital detox measures moderates the relationship between cognitive overload and the perception of work demands. These relationships were not found for the use of videoconferencing tools. Results from an online survey ( N = 403) conducted during the period of strict lockdown measures in Germany in April and May 2020 indicate that the relationship between the use of text-based tools and well-being, but not perceived job performance, is mediated by cognitive overload. This paper presents an analysis of the relationships between the use of digital work tools, the feeling of cognitive overload, digital detox measures, perceived work performance, and well-being. The idea of digital detox has received increasing attention in the last few years as a means for recovering from stress caused by the use of digital media. The increased need to use digital tools can create cognitive overload that may negatively impact work productivity and well-being.
Although working from home can enhance flexibility, it comes with various psychological challenges, all of which can be substantially exacerbated for people during the COVID-19 pandemic. For most people, telework during the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates the increased use of digital tools.
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