Are you using too many applications?

The Average Worker Uses 9.4 Apps a Day

Let’s pause a moment so you can count yours.

Done counting? Great. Because here’s more data from an interesting study of 900 people I found online:

74% had five or more apps running at the same time.
16% had 15 or more open simultaneously.
IT professionals used the most (10.43), followed by marketing (8.4) and HR (7.55).
43% said they had to switch between too many apps just to complete simple tasks.

Every time you switch apps, you force your brain to adjust to a new context. That mental shift adds up — and it’s exhausting.

In the study, some users were analyzed more closely.

The results? They switched between apps 1,100 times per day.

So… can we agree you might be using too many apps?

“That’s Absurd”

According to my calculations, you waste around 55 minutes every day just switching between apps.

As Kirsti Tomita would say — that’s absurd!

My airtight equation assumes every switch takes about three seconds, and that’s generous since I didn’t even factor in the mental readjustment time.

And yes, it’s absurd — but also pretty standard in most workplaces.

To make sure my theory held up, I ran a quick survey among friends and colleagues. The results looked something like this:

A phone system app
A video meeting app
An email client
A Kanban board (like Trello)
A chat and collaboration tool
An HR platform
Design software
And more…

At lynes, we work every day to reduce the number of apps we use — to streamline our workflow and simplify everyday life.

Maybe that’s something you should consider too?

The Solution

Now that you’re officially on a mission to cut down on apps, here’s how to start:

Audit your daily tools. List everything you use.
Identify what’s redundant. Which tools overlap in function?
Combine where possible. Look for platforms that let you do more in one place.

If you use your operator’s phone system, Google Meet for video calls, and Slack for chat — you’re not just overcomplicating things. You’re also wasting 55 minutes a day switching between them.

What You Can Replace With lynes

Heard of lynes? No? Let me explain.

lynes is a multi-functional communication platform that brings together everything you need to stay connected — so you don’t have to switch apps 1,100 times a day.

With lynes, you can eliminate: