In the passing years, I have collected quite a few digital tools that have helped me navigate between tasks and responsibilities more efficiently. Over time, from a minimalist mindset perspective, I learned to reduce my digital tools to the minimum that gives me the maximum benefit.
Chrome plugins are really useful. Many needs and problems can sometimes be solved simply by pressing a button.
Even though it is tempting to download a lot of plugins, it’s highly recommended for security and privacy reasons to use extensions developed by reputable parties and not just anyone.
Extensions are also a dynamic and changing matter – there are new ones every now and then. For this article, I have chosen extensions that I trust and know from experience. Beyond getting to know the specific extensions themselves, I recommend that you connect with the idea behind them, and perhaps find another similar extension that is more suitable for you.
Manage your tabs with Onetab
It is pretty common for curious, active people who work in the digital space to have close to a billion tabs open in their browser. It’s a cognitive hazard, creates a feeling of overload, and strains the computer’s memory.
By using the Onetab extension, all of the open tabs are grouped into a friendly list in one tab. This allows me to focus on what I’m working on at the moment without losing my attention.
Simple but effective.
Click here to download the Onetab plugin
Manage your tabs with The Great Suspender
It is already well known that many of us have so many tabs open that it is actually a miracle that our browser does not crash. Joking aside, open tabs consume our computer’s memory and significantly slow it down.
The Great Suspender puts tabs to sleep for us after a predetermined amount of time, thus helping our computers manage our lack of organization. An extension that saves us a lot of time, no doubt.
Click here to download The Great Suspender
Block distracting websites with StayFocused
There are numerous websites that take our time and attention without giving us anything in return. It is these sites that provide us with instant gratification and enable us to avoid doing our important tasks.
StayFocused allows us to reduce the time we spend on these sites quickly and easily.
Here’s how it works:
Using the extension, we define how much time we agree to spend on Facebook (for example). When we exceed the limit, the extension blocks our access.
Blocking can be done at the level of the site, the page or even specific contents within the page. It’s extremely flexible.
Click here to download the StayFocused plugin
Hiding the feed with News Feed Eradicator
What is certain is that during a working day that strives for productivity, reducing the amount of time spent on social media is beneficial and recommended.
News Feed Eradicator is a simple and clever extension that replaces the newsfeed with selected inspirational quotes. You can use the defaults or add your own.
It can be applied for Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and others.
Regarding the extension benefits (or drawbacks, depending on your perspective), there are no restrictions on using the rest of the site.
Click here to download News Feed Eradicator
Momentum – Interactive productivity interface
Momentum extension allows us to design the default Chrome tab panel as an integrated interface which reduces the distracting nature of opening new tabs in Chrome.
As an alternative to the Chrome boring design, you can choose nature or zen-inspired backgrounds, quotes or mantras. You can keep track of tasks and weather, and everything is completely modular and can be removed or added at any time.
Momentum also offers quite a few additional features in its premium version available for a monthly fee.
Click here to download the Momentum extenstion
Blocking ads with uBlock Origin
It is a free, open-source browser extension that prevents websites from loading unwanted content, such as advertisements, trackers, and malware. In addition to making web pages load faster, it protects from potentially harmful and irritating content.
uBlock Origin uses a variety of methods to block content, including filtering lists, custom rules, and network-level blocking. It allows users to select what types of content they want to block and which websites they want to allow.
As well as blocking ads and tracking, it also protects privacy, optimizes resources, and improves security.
Click here to download uBlock origin
Keep content for future reading with Save to Pocket
Is this script familiar to you? It involves getting caught up in a flood of interesting information while you’re supposed to be doing something completely different. Pocket is a viable solution for this.
The add-on lets you save articles and pieces of content to your queue for future reference – on your computer, Android or iPhone. So, you can save a fascinating article you came across while working for future leisurely reading.
Click here to download the Save to Pocket extension
Explore your browsing data with RescueTime
As hard as it is to admit, one of the things that really helps us maintain a high level of focus and productivity is to follow, at least for a while, what we are actually doing when working. RescueTime is one of those extensions that confronts us with reality and shows us exactly how much time we spent and where.
As the extension runs in the background, it gathers information about our browsing. This allows us to see what is distracting us and prepare a preventive action plan based on what it shows.
Download the RescueTime plugin here
That’s your time to experiment
These are just a few examples of tools that might help you become more focused and productive while working online. There is no extension that works for everyone and you’ll just have to try it out for yourself.
To improve your results, I recommend cultivating a holistic productivity mindset.
Do you know any Chrome extension for Productivity that I should know about?
Please feel free to reach out and let me know.
