With the endless distractions and constant stimulation we find on the web, it's important to have strategies in place to stay focused online.
Doom scrolling or keeping 300 tabs open in Chrome is a recipe for disaster, especially when it comes to productivity and getting your tasks done.
Of course, for those of us living with ADHD, it’s even more of a challenge.
So we’ve put together ten actionable - and also realistic! - tips to help you stay focused while navigating the crazy mess that we like to call the ‘world wild web’!
Create a structured schedule for online activities. Allocate time slots for specific tasks or work, and try to batch tasks together by subject. So, time-block when you want to research online or need to answer those emails. A routine like this is extra important, if you work from home or you’re in college, so you ensure your internet use doesn’t bleed into your leisure time.
Stick to this routine as much as possible. Having a predictable schedule helps train your brain to get into ‘focus mode’ online and stay on task.
Before starting any online activity, take just a few moments to clarify what you want to accomplish by being online. Close your eyes and think through how you’re going to use the internet and what you want to achieve.
It might sound a bit more ‘out there’ than some of our other tips but visualising and being intentional can be super useful for people with focus issues.
Breaking down online activity into simpler steps can be effective in preventing you from getting overwhelmed. A clear roadmap can help you to stay focused and plan which task to tackle first.
We recommend picking something fun or quick-to-complete so you can jump-start your focus and work up to those trickier tasks, once you’ve found your groove. Alternatively, ‘eat the frog’ first and tackle that task you are dreading the most.
It’s an oldie but a good one! The Pomodoro Technique is popular for a reason. Grab your favourite tomato timer (or your mobile will do!) and get working to the clock. You can gameify your online activities by seeing how much work you can complete in 25 minutes.
Bonus tip: After the 25 minutes is up, take a break for five and check in with yourself that you’re still on task with what you want to achieve.
This is a big one. A cluttered online environment can contribute to mental clutter and distraction. We often leave tabs open as visual reminders and then get lost in a sea of Chrome tabs later in the day.
That’s why we recommend switching to Horse Browser, which replaces tabs with a feature called Trails. Every time you click on a link, a new nested page opens on the Trail, merging tabs, bookmarks and history into one minimalist, easy-to-read vertical layout. You’ll never get lost in tab clutter again. Context switching becomes so much easier and you’ll always understand exactly how you got to a particular website. Find out more here.