Life online is distracting. Between unread emails, disorganized bookmarks, push-up notifications, and multiple tabs, your mind starts racing like a pro the minute you open your browser. It happens every time, whether you are trying to solve a work-related problem, book a vacation, learn a new language or order food online. Even if you have not been diagnosed with ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, you feel your mind scattered.
We'll show you how to create a distraction-free browsing environment that takes you from information overload-the reason you feel like you've maxed out your processing capacity-to mental clarity. In no time, you'll be working smarter, not harder.
In this article you’ll learn about:
Why can't you focus online?How to create a routine to start and end your dayThe importance of cultivating a safe space for your mindHow group tabs can help you with decision-makingStay focused online with MirrorDon't worry about remembering everything
Why can't you focus online?
Over the past few decades, people's attention spans have shrunk dramatically. According to Dr. Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics at the University of California, the Internet and digital devices have affected our ability to focus. She found that the average attention span on a screen is only 75 seconds. It's not surprising that you find yourself jumping from tab to tab without getting much done.
In addition, each time our attention is diverted from an active work project, we spend about 25 minutes refocusing on that task. This slows performance and creates extra work for your brain. But how can you maximise your time and optimize the Internet's resources without getting bogged down?
It all begins with the browser, our front door to the World Wide Web.
- Your browser is set for distraction
In the early days, Web browsers served as simple tools for accessing information, which was enough. However, the amount of information we consume on the web today is massive. The features of modern browsers were designed for Web 1.0, so it's no surprise that you often experience information overload.
- You mistake tweaking for productivity
Imagine this: You know you have attention deficit disorder, so you do your best to find a system to improve your focus. You try all ADHD tools you can find, including project management systems, tracking software, and to-do apps. As you browse, create accounts, customize, and try out to simplify your life, you get an instant dopamine rush and feel as productive as ever, but the reality is that not much work has been done.
- When online, leisure and work are intertwined
Task switching is natural for adults with ADHD; it's a way for the brain to keep looking for something exciting. Most browsers facilitate this by allowing you to open multiple tabs. This convenience makes it relatively easy to switch between work-related tasks and leisure activities. And as we all know, multitasking increases cognitive load. A nightmare for efficiency and productivity.
How to create a routine to start and end your day
When you start and end your day with purpose, you are more likely to stay focused throughout the day. This keeps your mind sharp for the tasks ahead and allows you to visualize your day as a whole. That's the power of routines: they help you stay on track.
One easy way to set up your browser for your routine is to create two sets of tabs: one with the sites you need to start your day-that could be your email, Slack, or a specific work document-and another to help you finish your day smoothly. The latter could include your to-do list or mental exercises to help you unwind.
The importance of cultivating a safe space for your mind
Sometimes you want to give a task your full attention. Let's say you want to focus on reading and understanding a long article. You might try to block out all the distractions around you and clear your mind, but two paragraphs in, you know your efforts have been in vain. It's probably because you're tired and your mind has too much room for distraction.
Here's how to get your attention back:
- Listen to music
Ambient or lo-fi music can trick your brain into focusing on the task at hand by occupying your mind (leaving no room for other distractions). A group tab for your favourite tunes gives you quick access to your Spotify playlists, NTS Infinite playlist for Slow Focus, or something more experimental and fun like Drive & Listen.
- Play a game
Memory, attention, and problem-solving games like Sudoku, Cross Words, or Spelling B can help you focus and perform cognitive tasks. Save a group tab in the Safe Space session for games that help you unwind and get back to work in no time.
- Meditate
Meditation can help you improve your attention and reduce stress over time. Keep all your mental well-being apps in the same group with Mirror. Headspace, Open, and Calm are just a click away.
- Take notes as a mind-clearing tool
Writing is thinking. If you feel like you have too much on your mind and can't think straight, use a notebook or a notes app to clear your mind. Journaling can be an easy and inexpensive way to improve your mental health.
How group tabs can help you with decision-making
The first step to organizing your browser with Mirror is to create different sessions for each goal or task you have. The next step is to organize the group tabs in each session to make decision-making easier.
Let's say your goal is to learn Korean. You can create a language learning session with group tabs for your daily lessons, grammar exercises, or vocabulary building. You will know exactly what to do.
The same goes for your work, shopping or vacation planning. You can create different sets of tabs for all your browsing without mixing them up. This helps you stay focused as you organize your digital life.
Stay focused online with Mirror
A browser should be so effective that you forget you are using it. With that in mind, we created Mirror, a browsing environment designed to help you focus on what you need to do, without making you feel like you have to learn a new system. Your Internet activities, when done on Mirror, can become as intuitive as possible. Even when your mind is racing.
Built for today's Internet, it addresses the overwhelming challenge of information overload with an ADHD-friendly digital workspace that lets you organize your online activities with ease. It also guides you through the entire process of finding, viewing, capturing, and storing information.
.jpeg?table=block&id=6dc517d5-c175-450f-83d7-0eb6eb722b13&cache=v2)
A neatly organized home page for your tasks and goals
You probably have a lot on your mind before you even open your browser. Why don't you do your brain a favour and create a home page that can (almost) read your mind? With Mirror, you can customize a space that fits your workflow. You can see it at a glance.
By creating dedicated workspaces for different activities, you can change the way you work and spend time online for the better.
Plus, using questions for your workspaces and action verbs like Get, Plan, Learn, or Buy for your sessions can give you an instant clue as to why you are online. This respects your attention and gives your mind a little break.
But what kind of sessions should you create to organize your life? Dividing your workspace into work and play is one option, but organizing your sessions by goals or objectives makes it easy to get things done while keeping your browsing experience streamlined.
Don't worry about remembering everything
One simple thing that can improve your attention is to reduce the amount of information in your working memory. With less information to remember, you can use your brain to complete tasks effectively, stay focused, and be more creative.
This is how Mirror features can help you with long-term memory storage:
- Auto-saved tabs: An alternative to Chrome’s Tab Group feature
There's a noticeable difference between Mirror and the Chrome Tab Groups feature. While you can organize your tabs into groups in both browsers, Chrome Tab Groups are temporary. It's a feature designed for short-term tidying that has no long-term functional purpose. Once you close the windows, all your nicely grouped tabs will disappear. Mirror saves your groups so you can get back to work, or leisure, as quickly as possible.
- Self-organizing workspace: An easy-to-use alternative to Notion
Notion can be challenging for adults with ADHD due to its wide range of features and customization options. With Mirror, you don't have to establish a routine for consistently using and updating your online environment. You can simply perform your tasks and Mirror's self-organizing browser will do the rest for you.