Long story short, I’m a window hoarder, and I refuse to let go of tabs like I have emotional attachment to this cmd opened 7 hours ago.
I need tips and advice for good practices. How to change habits or maybe a software that can help with this.
I often leave too many tabs and files open and forget to close them, losing track of what I was doing or which code I was working on. I spend at least a third of my workday just trying to navigate the mess in my VSCode and the overwhelming number of Chrome tabs that I can’t even remember why I opened
Today, I accidentally merged the wrong branches at my new job. Every time I commit something, it’s followed by another six fixes.
I have ADHD and am in treatment, but this lifelong behavior is still affecting my productivity and leading to growing frustration.
I hear you. What’s helped me is breaking tasks down into really small, manageable parts and then only keeping tabs/files open for that specific chunk of work. Once it’s done, I immediately close everything related to it. Kind of like a mental decluttering. I also love using a scratchpad or sticky notes to jot down where I left off before closing things.
No worries, I definitely get where you’re coming from. Here’s what’s worked for me:
For browser tabs, start using bookmarks more often. Sometimes just clicking on a tab, taking a quick glance, and deciding it’s not necessary anymore is enough. If you still think you might need it, bookmark it instead of leaving it open. Create simple folders like “HTML,” “CSS,” “SQL,” “C#” — no need to get too specific. This way, you can always come back to them without the clutter.
For code tabs, pin the key files you’re working on in your IDE, and get comfortable with the “close all but pinned” option (or something similar). You don’t lose the files by closing the tabs — they’ll still be available when you reopen them, usually by following references or searching.
For task management, I find that a combo of Trello and Notepad++ works wonders. Trello helps me track tasks I’d otherwise jot down on sticky notes, and Notepad++ is where I keep more detailed notes, especially when working on something complex. It also has tabs, so I save files into folders like “bookmarks” to keep things organized and reduce tab overload.
When it comes to Git, my advice is to slow down and be mindful of what you’re doing. Sometimes quick fixes work, but it’s better to pause, reflect, and go through “git status” and “git diff” carefully. It also helps to have a solid branching strategy with a clear naming convention to avoid confusion.
You’re going to have to start pushing yourself to close things down and change up how you organize your workflow. It’s tough at first, but if you stick with it, it gets easier.
I personally ditched editor tabs completely. Now I just use shortcuts to jump between files or marked spots when I need to switch quickly.
For browser tabs, I try to close as many as possible or save them into bookmark groups for later. That way, I don’t drown in them.
I also switched to a tiling window manager (amethyst on macOS and hyprland on Arch Linux) and assign each desktop to specific tasks. For example, Workspace 1 is for my browser and code editor, Workspace 2 is for Teams and Outlook, Workspace 3 is for terminals inside Docker containers, and Workspace 4 is for Datagrip and Obsidian notes. It keeps everything organized and easy to switch between.
For Git, I recommend using LazyGit. It simplifies everything into a compact TUI, making all your commands easier to handle and reducing the need for big, messy workflows.
Also, keep your physical workspace tidy, exercise regularly, and stay hydrated. And if you’re like me, Ritalin 3x a day helps too, haha.
Keep in mind that ADHD makes it super hard, if not impossible, to form habits like others. Personally, I find it way easier to follow rules than to rely on habit-building. So here are some personal rules that have made a huge difference for me:
- Browser Window Rule: Each task gets its own browser window. Finish the task? Close the window. At the end of the day, I shut all browser windows. If I think I’ll need the tabs again, I save them in a bookmarks folder for that specific task before closing. This prevents tab overload.
- Branch Merge Checklist: Before merging any branch, I go through a checklist, including but not limited to:
- Double-checking I’m on the right branch and targeting the right one.
- Making sure all tests are passing and covering the success criteria.
- Verifying that the design is followed properly.
- Re-reading the code as if I’m reviewing someone else’s work.Every single time. Skipping any of these steps has caused me more problems than I can count, so this checklist is now a non-negotiable for me. It’s all about preventing those foreseeable errors.
- End-of-Day Review: At the end of each day, I look over my calendar for tomorrow, prioritize new tasks, and list out the 3-6 most important things I need to get done in order of priority. The next day, I work down that list. If something interrupts me, I ask if it’s more urgent than what I’m working on. If not, it goes in my “triage pile” for later.
- Handling Production Systems: If you ever work on production systems, ALWAYS log out of your admin accounts when you’re done. No multitasking while logged into production—seriously, don’t leave any windows open. It’s way too easy to mess something up by accident.
- Tiling Window Manager: I use a tiling window manager to dedicate each workspace to a specific task. For example:
- Workspace 1: Browser and code editor
- Workspace 2: Teams and Outlook
- Workspace 3: Terminals for Docker containers
- Workspace 4: DataGrip and Obsidian for notes This setup helps me compartmentalize tasks and stay organized.
- LazyGit for Git Management: I also love using tools like LazyGit—it simplifies all your Git commands into a nice compact interface. Makes the info way more digestible and reduces big commands into keybinds.
- Keep it Physical: A clean physical desk, regular exercise, and staying hydrated are crucial for keeping my brain in check. And of course, Ritalin 3x daily helps too, lol.
These rules have made my workflow a lot more manageable with ADHD. Hope they help!
I totally get where you’re coming from — I’m similar in some ways. What’s worked for me is taking super detailed notes that I can search later using keywords I know future-me will recognize. I also spend about 10 minutes each day organizing and adding bookmarks, which has made a huge difference.
One thing that’s been a game changer for managing tabs is how I organize my screens. I use DisplayLink to set up multiple monitors: one for active dev work, another for reference material, one for communication, and one for any REPL-driven development. Between this setup and solid bookmark management, I’ve found things a lot more manageable than before.
When it comes to managing tabs, I usually create folders and bookmark entire groups of windows all at once before closing everything to reset. I don’t mind the hassle of finding them again if it means I can let go of them without actually losing them.
I rarely revisit the tabs I’ve bookmarked, but occasionally, I do go back to them.
I’m also an ADHDer, and I can’t focus properly with too many things open at once.
What I do is make a habit of closing everything when I switch tasks. New task? I close all my browser tabs and apps, even if I plan to reopen them soon, like VSCode. On Mac, I use Alfred’s “Quit All Apps” feature to shut everything down quickly.
If you’re not on a Mac or don’t use Alfred, try finding a shortcut for your OS that closes all open applications. Running this shortcut whenever you finish a task can really help keep things organized.
I’ve also played around with Arc, which tries to manage tabs in a more organized way, letting you have many tabs open but in a structured manner. I have mixed feelings about it, but it might be worth checking out to see if it helps with managing your browser tabs.