Before we go any further: How many browsers, tabs and programs do you have open right now? I want you to count them, go on, it won’t take more than 30 seconds. Count every program, every tab in your browser (yes, in every browser window).
10?
20?
If you are like me you and you are 2-3 hours into your work day you are at or above the latter. Ever heard that you should keep your desk clutter-free and limit distractions? Why should your desktop be any different?
And that is our problem. You might not think so, but every item that is open demands a bit of our energy, even if we are not looking at it or working through it actively. Bear with me for the following experiment. How is this desktop looking for you?
Even if this is your background, or the screen off to the side, or you only see it between programs – the scrambled nature of the many objects are pulling on your attention and draining your focus from what you should be doing.
Now how about this desktop? How would you feel working next to this one instead of the first scattered one?
Feels a lot better, doesn’t it? It will also pull a lot less on your attention!!!
So your task RIGHT NOW is to clean up and drop all those items into either the bin, or a folder (adequately labeld “STUFF”) that subs as a pre-bin folder (to be cleaned up at the next opportune moment). Do it – now! Again, this will merely take 5 seconds of your time!
Now that we got that sorted out, your task from now on for today is to only have the window or tab open that you are currently working on. If you need to look something up, or send an e-mail, open that, work in it, then close it again. Your browser saves your past history, you can check the “keep me logged in” and auto-complete will help you remember the web addresses (or use your bookmarks) and our internet times have become lightning fast – There is no excuse not to close everything and re-open it as needed.
You are only allowed to have one tab, browser or program open at the same time. If you are waiting for something to upload, DO NOT open another window or tab.
INSTEAD BE BORED AND WAIT.
This is my writing desktop right now:
There is nothing to distract me from writing this article for you. This system will make single-tasking much easier for you, limiting distractions and focusing you on your one main task until that is done (and closed again).
The bored waiting will also train your dopamine-addicted system to learn and wait, and not hop on the next best thing (Yay, let’s surf Instagram – ONE HOUR LATER…) on every chance.
Give the one window system a week and let me know how this goes for you.