When it comes to productivity I have these two conflicting ideas on managing your computer screen real estate for optimal productivity: show as much information as possible or show as little as possible. Both strategies have their advantages, but also clear disadvantages.
The “show as much information as possible” approach involves having multiple apps open and visible on your screen, allowing you to switch between them easily. This approach can increase efficiency by allowing you to quickly access information as needed. With a more extensive view of your workspace, it can be easier to keep track of multiple aspects of a project simultaneously.
However, having too much information on your screen can become overwhelming, leading to cognitive overload and decreased productivity. Notifications and constant switching between apps can quickly become distractions and I get distracted extremely easily. In contrast, the “show as little information as possible” approach involves closing all unnecessary apps and leaving only the essentials visible. This approach can help to focus on the task at hand and eliminate visual distractions, improving productivity.
Although my intuitive go-to is to show as much information as possible, I still haven’t found the perfect solution for this problem, which means I’ll probably have to experiment with both.
”Show as much information as possible”-approach
I have used đź’Ž Amethyst as a window manager before, but I also want to consider more powerful options that could not only manage the windows but even set up entire workspaces with dedicated apps.
There are a couple of apps like Workspaces and Magnet that I have looked into, but they come with a price tag. On the other hand, free apps like Spectacle are not actively maintained anymore, which seems risky to depend on.