Tidy One Tab, Not Ten

According to a 2023 study by Qatalog and Cornell University, the average knowledge worker toggles between applications and browser tabs nearly 1,200 times per day. This constant multitasking leads to “attention residue,” a cognitive drain that occurs when part of one’s focus remains stuck on a previous task. It’s not just inefficient; it’s exhausting.

Rather than attempting to clear every tab or app simultaneously, the smarter move is to close the loop on just one thing at a time. Cognitive science confirms this: research from the American Psychological Association shows that multitasking can reduce productivity by as much as 40%, while task-switching takes up to 25 minutes to recover from each time.

Focusing on one tab or project at a time enables you to give your full attention to the task in front of you, improving both speed and quality of work. The productivity principle here is known as monotasking, and it’s backed by behavioral science. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the visual noise of 30 open tabs, set a timer for 20 minutes, pick the most important one, and commit.

Tools like browser tab managers or the Pomodoro technique (25-minute work sprints) can help enforce this focus. When a session ends, give yourself a small reward and then tidy the next tab. By taking one tab at a time, you reduce mental friction, boost your focus, and build the momentum needed to manage bigger tasks effectively.