You probably have 20 browser tabs open right now. You think this makes you productive because you are “multitasking.”
However, that is a lie. Multitasking is a myth.
Every open tab is a demand on your attention. Consequently, your brain leaks energy just trying to remember why you opened them. If you want to stop feeling scattered, you need the One Tab Rule.
What Is the One Tab Rule?
The concept is extreme, but it works. Specifically, you are only allowed to have one single browser tab open at a time.
If you are writing an email, that is the only tab open. If you need to search for a fact, you must open a new tab, find the fact, and close it immediately before returning to the email.
Therefore, you can never get lost in a “Wikipedia rabbit hole” because the rule forbids it.
Why Browser Clutter Destroys Focus
Psychologists call unfinished tasks “open loops.”
Your brain naturally wants to close these loops. When you have 15 tabs open, you have 15 open loops screaming for attention. As a result, you feel anxious and overwhelmed.
By closing the tabs, you close the loops. Thus, your brain quiets down.
3 Ways to Survive with Only One Tab
1. Use a “Read Later” App
Often, we leave tabs open because we want to read an article “later.”
Instead, use an app like Pocket or Instapaper. When you see an interesting article, save it to the app and close the tab. Consequently, your browser stays clean for actual work.
2. The “Copy and Paste” Trick
If you need data from a website to write a report, don’t keep the website open.
First, copy the data you need. Next, paste it into your document. Finally, close the source tab. You don’t need the whole website; you just need the text.
3. Use a Tab Limiter Extension
If you have zero self-control, force it with technology.
Install a browser extension like “xTab” or “OneTab.” Basically, these tools will physically prevent you from opening more than a set number of tabs. It forces you to make a choice.
Conclusion
Focus is not a skill. Focus is a subtraction.
To summarize, stop opening new windows. Close the clutter. Your brain will thank you.
Tell me in the comments: How many tabs do you have open right now? Be honest!
