Time to clear digital clutter

The calculator uses the numbers you enter: unread emails, open tabs, unsorted files, and minutes to tidy 10 things. 140 things at 1.5 minutes need 210 minutes. 30 minutes is 3 hours short. Phone notifications sit in the grid.

The calculator does not open the inbox and does not clean files. Phone notifications are optional and do not change the main result. Screen time: non-work screen time.

Input data

Enter emails, tabs, files, minutes for 10 things, and tidy-up minutes this week. You can leave notifications as context.

Optional context

This field is optional. Phone notifications appear in the grid beside tidy-up time. A blank field skips that context and does not change the main result.

Results

Enter data and click Calculate.

How it works

The calculator adds emails, tabs, and files, multiplies the sum by minutes per thing from the pace for 10 things, then subtracts that time from tidy-up minutes. 80 plus 20 plus 40 is 140. 15 ÷ 10 = 1.5. 140 × 1.5 = 210. 30 − 210 = −180 minutes, which is 3 hours short.

The main result comes from emails, tabs, files, pace, and tidy-up minutes. Phone notifications are optional and do not change the main result.

Second example: 40 things at 1 minute and 60 minutes is 0.3 hours spare. Third: 320 things at 2 minutes and 20 minutes is 10.3 hours short.

The calculator does not open the inbox and does not clean files. A comma in 12.5 is read the same way as a period.

Formula

Result in hours = (tidy-up minutes − things × minutes for 10 ÷ 10) ÷ 60. At 80, 20, 40, 15 and 30: (30 − 210) ÷ 60 = −3. Notifications are optional.

What these numbers mean

140 things at 1.5 minutes and 30 minutes is 3 hours short.

digital backlog
The sum of emails, tabs, and files, then multiplied by minutes per thing. At 80, 20 and 40 that is 140 things. At 1.5 minutes that is 210 minutes.
tidy-up pace
Minutes to tidy 10 things. 15 minutes for 10 things is 1.5 minutes each.
digital tidy-up
Minutes you give in a week. The calculator subtracts the time the backlog needs. At 30 and 210 the result is 3 hours short.

How to use

  1. Enter 80 emails, 20 tabs, and 40 files.
  2. Add 15 minutes for 10 things and 30 tidy-up minutes.
  3. Click Calculate. The result is 3 hours short.
  4. Second example: 20, 8, 12, 10 and 60 is 0.3 hours spare. Third: 200, 40, 80, 20 and 20 is 10.3 hours short.
  5. You can skip notifications. When you fill that field, they appear in the grid and do not change the main result.

Examples

Example 1

  • email 80
  • tabs 20
  • files 40
  • pace 15 min / 10
  • tidy-up 30

3 hours short

80 + 20 + 40 = 140. 15 ÷ 10 = 1.5. 140 × 1.5 = 210. 30 − 210 = −180 minutes, which is 3 hours.

Example 2

  • email 20
  • tabs 8
  • files 12
  • pace 10 min / 10
  • tidy-up 60

0.3 hours spare

20 + 8 + 12 = 40. 10 ÷ 10 = 1. 40 × 1 = 40. 60 − 40 = 20 minutes, which is 0.3 hours.

Example 3

  • email 200
  • tabs 40
  • files 80
  • pace 20 min / 10
  • tidy-up 20

10.3 hours short

200 + 40 + 80 = 320. 20 ÷ 10 = 2. 320 × 2 = 640. 20 − 640 = −620 minutes, which is 10.3 hours.

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Common questions

What does 3 hours short mean?

80 + 20 + 40 = 140. 15 ÷ 10 = 1.5. 140 × 1.5 = 210. 30 − 210 = −180 minutes, which is 3 hours.

How is the result calculated?

Result in hours = (tidy-up minutes − things × minutes for 10 ÷ 10) ÷ 60. At 80, 20, 40, 15 and 30: (30 − 210) ÷ 60 = −3.

What is the second example?

40 things at 1 minute and 60 minutes is 0.3 hours spare.

What is the third example?

320 things at 2 minutes and 20 minutes is 10.3 hours short.

What does the calculator not do?

The calculator does not open the inbox and does not clean files. Phone notifications are optional.

Do all fields enter the main result?

No. The main result comes from emails, tabs, files, pace, and tidy-up minutes. Phone notifications are optional.

What do digital backlog, tidy-up pace, and digital tidy-up mean?

The backlog is emails, tabs, and files times minutes per thing. Pace is minutes for 10 things. Tidy-up is the minutes you give in a week.

Does a comma in 12.5 work?

Yes. 12.5 and 12,5 are read the same way.

Sources

The result comes from the numbers you enter. This is spare time or a shortfall, not an inbox clean-up.

Page updated in 2026.