You’re FanTABulous! – Closing Your Tabs and Single-Tasking

Day One of Comparing Humans to Computers.

Imagine you’re trying to write a thought-out email, but your brain keeps bouncing between a grocery list, that hilarious cat video you saw earlier, and oh yeah, the actual email. We’ve all been there, drowning in a sea of open tabs – both mental and digital.  Multitasking feels productive, but it often leaves us scattered and frustrated.

Think of your brain like your computer.  Ever tried working with a dozen browser tabs open?  Everything slows down. The same goes for our minds. Too many “mental tabs” bog down our focus and make it tough to tackle tasks efficiently.

I know… it’s hard to close tabs and move away from thoughts that feel important.  Here are some practical tips I try to remember so that I can keep my focus:

• If l notice an internal to-do list on repeat, I write it down. A to-do list app or a trusty journal are great options. Writing things down allows me to focus on the present task without constantly replaying that mental checklist.
• Ever find yourself hoarding browser tabs “just in case” you need them later? It’s a habit I’m still working on. To keep my open tabs at a low, I started using the “favorite” button. I add the tab that I want to remember to a dedicated folder and close the tab. If I need it, it’s available to me.

By shutting down mental and digital tabs, you are more likely to:

• Stay focused: Less distractions means sharper concentration. You’ll get to see how much more you can accomplish when your mind isn’t bouncing around from thought to thought and tab to tab.
• Get efficient: Knock out tasks one at a time, and watch your productivity rise. You’ll be surprised how much more you can manage your workload.
• Stay more calm and clear: Help your mind be free from information overload. Giving your mind space for clarity can lead to a significant decrease in stress.

Closing the tabs takes a bit of practice, but the rewards are well worth it.  Try these tips and notice what it does to your focus!  Let’s find out how much more we can achieve with a clearer and less cluttered mind.

ACTION: Close one tab every day. Both in your mind (by writing it down/putting it on the calendar) and in your browser (if you need to remember the tab, save it to a dedicated folder and close the tab). See what that feels like at the end of the week. You might be surprised at how much calmer and clearer your mind feels with just a few less things to juggle.