Work in a single window

Keep one document, one tab, one tool visible so the next task is not one glance away.

Why it works

Visible alternatives are switch invitations: an open tab or pinging window is a cue that competes for attention and makes self-interruption nearly automatic. A single-window workspace removes the cues, so staying on task requires no willpower because there is nothing visible to switch to.

How to do it

1. Full-screen the one app or document you are working in.
2. Close or hide every other tab and window before starting, not as you go.
3. Keep a single capture note for anything you would otherwise open a tab to handle.

Evidence

Consistent with cue-driven attention and self-interruption research: removing visible alternatives reduces the prompts that trigger switching. This is a practical application, not a separately trialed protocol. (mechanistic)

Mechanistically grounded in attention and choice-architecture findings; the single-window tactic itself has not been isolated in a controlled trial.

Common mistake

Keeping reference tabs open "just in case," which become the most frequent self-interruption source of the session.