The Science Behind Our Notebook
Digital Overload & Focus Fatigue
In a world of constant notifications, endless screens, and multitasking demands, our ability to focus is under siege. Digital overload is more than just a buzzword — it's a modern challenge impacting productivity, mental clarity, and overall well-being.
“Digital fatigue occurs when individuals experience cognitive saturation due to the constant barrage of information and demands from digital devices. This can lead to decreased concentration, increased irritability, sleep problems, and burnout. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is now recognized as an occupational phenomenon. The American Psychological Association (APA) has highlighted the mental health implications of digital fatigue, including increased anxiety, depression, and a sense of isolation among workers.”
World Health Organization &American Psychological Association
A study by the University of California, Irvine, found that it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to regain focus after an interruption, such as switching between apps. Multiply this by the number of times an employee switches between apps in a day, and the impact on productivity becomes evident."
University of California, Irvine
“When writing by hand, brain connectivity patterns were far more elaborate than when typewriting on a keyboard… These patterns are crucial for memory formation and for encoding new information and, therefore, are beneficial for learning.”
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Our Perspective
Handwriting activates the brain in ways typing can’t, boosting memory, learning, and follow-through. Our notebook uses a two-page design—productivity on the left, wellness on the right—so you get the cognitive benefits of handwriting, plus instant digital support for healthy routines, making it easier to build habits that last.
The Intention-Action Gap
We often know what we should do — eat healthier, focus more, scroll less — yet still struggle to follow through. This disconnect between what we intend and what we actually do is known as the intention-action gap. Understanding why it happens is the first step toward meaningful change.
“The intention-behavior gap (IBG) is a fundamental challenge in health psychology. It refers to the disconnect between what people intend to do and what they actually end up doing… This gap reveals that intention alone is not always sufficient to produce action.”
University of Leeds & University of Sheffield
“Despite our best intentions to exercise regularly, eat healthier, or manage stress better, we often find ourselves falling short… Many chronic health conditions—such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity—are linked to behaviors that we struggle to maintain despite good intentions.”
Hogrefe Publishing
Our Perspective
Most people plan to make healthy choices, but life gets in the way. Our notebook bridges this gap by making healthy routines visible and actionable: the right page is dedicated to wellness, and QR codes provide instant access to office-friendly workouts and meal ideas, helping you act on your intentions in real time.
Building Sustainable Habits
True change doesn’t come from quick fixes — it’s built through consistent, repeatable actions over time. Building sustainable habits means creating routines that not only stick, but also support long-term well-being, focus, and growth.
“Handwriting creates unique neural tracings—internal ‘GPS signals’—for content, which helps cement intentions and plans into long-term memory. Writing by hand slows you down, fosters deliberate thought, and reduces digital distractions, all of which support habit formation and follow-through. This mindful approach makes it easier to build routines that last, compared to digital note-taking.”
University of Stavanger, Norway, &
University of Washington
“Research has shown that the consistent repetition of a single action in familiar contexts can act as a ‘trigger’ for habits to form. However, in today’s rapidly changing environments, frequent disruptions and lack of stable cues make it harder for individuals to maintain the repetition needed for sustainable habit formation.”
University of Oxford
“Habit formation primarily concerns interactions between the Prefrontal Cortex and the Basal Ganglia. While intentions can help set direction, without systems and cues in place, our best intentions are often overridden by more automatic responses. In today’s high-distraction environment, these primal, automatic patterns are easily reinforced, making it difficult to establish new, positive routines.”
Los Angeles Pacific University
Our Perspective
Building good habits is hard in today’s fast-paced, distraction-filled world because our brains are constantly pulled in different directions and routines are easily disrupted.
The PONTE Notebook is intentionally designed to counter this: by dedicating a clear space for daily routines and handwritten reflection, it leverages the proven benefits of analog planning to slow you down, foster mindful repetition, and anchor your habits.
Integrated QR codes provide just-in-time access to supportive digital content—so you get both consistency and flexibility, making it easier to form sustainable habits that fit real life.
