A couple of years ago I got into the habit of leaving a browser window open to contain an interesting or useful web page that I’d just found. I usually intended to come back and mention the page here on Operation Gadget or on CTDATA.com back when I used it as a blog.
This was one of the worst productivity and organizational mistakes I’d ever made. Now I’m bound and determined to put an end to it.
I have two 17-inch flat panel displays on my Blogging Workstation. At one point I thought this configuration would make feasible the habit of keeping a dozen or more web pages open simultaneously. It didn’t. I spend a minute or two several times a day looking for a page I’ve left open for myself on one of my six virtual desktop screens which are usually chock-full-of-information.
These extra windows that I keep open have become a significant distraction. In the course of searching for a piece of information amid the open windows on my desktop, I often take another look at several of my open windows and say to myself, “You know, that’s interesting….” Yea right. That’s why I left it open in the first place.
I don’t yet have an effective solution for this problem. It may come down to a combination of a bookmark manager such as del.icio.us plus handwritten notes and/or a wiki, but I’m guessing.
I just wanted to point out that I see this as an issue that effects my productivity. If it hurts you in the same way then admit it, try to find a solution that works for you, and let me know what it is.