Ditch Dual Displays for Better Focus
A dual monitor setup is a tempting way to show that you are highly productive. Multiple monitors just yell at the power user . In practice, however, customization can be more of a hindrance than a help. What if using one display allows you to focus better and get more work done?
This is what developer Corey House discovered after he got rid of his second monitor. House initially experimented with LG’s 34-inch widescreen display , but found that its width encouraged him to spend time constantly tinkering with window sizes to accommodate multiple apps on the same screen. He settled on a 24-inch 4K monitor combined with virtual desktop functionality, eliminating the need to constantly shift attention from one side of the screen to the other.
While it still has the same windows open, the virtual desktop takes away the annoyance of viewing multiple monitors. “The virtual desktop on the far left is always my browser, and the one on the right is my editor,” House wrote. “Therefore, I treat virtual desktops as physical screens that reliably represent the same content.” Virtual desktops make it easy to separate apps and accounts, and Windows 10 users can customize their virtual desktop using little software.
Simplifying his workplace helped him get the job done even when he was not in the office. Because he reduced the number of screens to just one, House could rely on the same window layout and virtual desktop feature on his laptop.
Unsurprisingly, reducing the number of monitors can help you get more work done. After all, using multiple monitors allows you to multitask, which can actually hinder your productivity.
Look at the negative effects that multitasking has on the brain , such as decreased functional memory or increased time required to switch between tasks. The very idea of “multitasking” is flawed: in fact, you are simply switching focus from activity to action, which reduces your ability to discard irrelevant information.
Dividing your focus and concentration into multitasking can distract you and interfere with your ability to do any task well. Studies claiming performance gains from multiple monitors are not always legitimate, especially with those funded by companies like Dell and NEC that make desktop monitors. That doesn’t mean you have to ditch your monitor and start working on iPad-sized screens , but reducing your workspace to one display can be more beneficial than having a command center at your disposal.
Why I Stop Using Multiple Monitors | Hacker afternoon