![]() ![]() Incessantly swinging from branch to branch.” With multiple windows and applications all vying for our attention, we have sadly adapted to the working habits of the computer, and not the other way around. Promotional material for the application (since changed) began with this bit of wisdom:Ī wise man once said: “We are all at the mercy of our wild monkey minds. Instead of nostalgia for word processing in the 1980s, OmmWriter trades in spiritual metaphors rooted in some of the traditions of Zen Buddhism. However, both the features and the aesthetic are quite different. This software application takes the same basic approach as all distraction-free writing tools: a full-screen, stripped down interface for writing. Want more tips to keep your work life on track? Read PCWorld’ s Simply Business blog. If you’d rather have a customizable timer, try the no-frills SnapTimer for Windows. All you need is a good timer, such as Focus Booster for Adobe Air. ![]() This approach, known as the Pomodoro Technique, is actually a popular productivity system in its own right. So how about a compromise? Work 25 minutes straight without interruption, take a quick break to relax your brain and catch up with your social life, then dive back in for another 25-minute distraction-free work session.įocusBooster is a useful timer for the PC. We know how it is: You’ve got a mountain of work to do, but you just can’t imagine going eight whole hours without taking a peek at Facebook. In Firefox Internet Explorer, and Google Chrome, simply press the F11 key to toggle full-screen mode. This mode is excellent for reading lengthy news articles or other content that requires your full attention. Fortunately, most modern browsers include a full-screen mode that can push all your other windows out of sight and fill your entire display with only the contents of the current browser tab. Use of the full-screen mode with your browser hides all other open windows, cutting down on distractions.Sometimes the Web isn’t a distraction at all, and it’s the rest of the apps on your PC that you need to ignore. ![]() Sorry, boss, I didn’t see your e-mail because I was busy working on that spreadsheet you wanted. JediConcentrate darkens all but your active window on your PC’s screen.Those of us old enough to remember DOS as a part of daily work life occasionally pine for the days when a PC could run only one app at a time. This cool little add-on lets you “mute” message threads that you’re cc’d on, so you don’t have to waste any of your attention on an endless debate between two coworkers about trivial details of an upcoming project you’re not even working on. To reduce distractions even more in Gmail, try the Smart Mute feature under the Labs tab in Gmail Settings. ![]() The easiest way to deal with this is to simply close the Gmail tab when you’re not actively checking mail. In this menu, you can uncheck as many of the alerts as you want, choosing to disable only the chime, or eliminating all signs that a message has come in.įor Gmail users, the most distracting feature (unless you have some kind of notifier installed) is the unread count indicator that appears in the browser tab. Outlook users can silence new-mail alerts by clicking Tools, Options, and E-mail Options, then clicking Advanced E-mail Options. ![]()
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