Use friction thoughtfully

Friction in digital interfaces serves as a double-edged sword in anxiety management. While unnecessary obstacles can frustrate users and increase anxiety, strategic friction plays a vital role in preventing irreversible mistakes and providing necessary moments of reflection. The key lies in implementing friction thoughtfully at critical decision points where users benefit from additional confirmation steps.

Destructive actions like account deletion, subscription cancellation, or permanent data removal require appropriate friction levels to prevent accidental actions and subsequent anxiety. These moments should include clear warnings about consequences and require explicit confirmation. For instance, deleting a project might prompt users to type "DELETE" or the project name, creating a deliberate pause for consideration. This extra step helps users feel more in control and confident about their decisions.