Do you ever find yourself with a dozen or more tabs open in your browser? If so, you're not alone. Many people find it convenient to keep multiple tabs open so they can quickly switch between them. However, having too many tabs open can actually slow down your computer and make your day less productive.

Here are some of the problems with having too many tabs open:

• It can slow down your computer. Each tab takes up some memory and CPU resources, so the more tabs you have open, the more resources your computer will need. This can lead to slower performance, especially on older or less powerful computers.
• One page may be running a process that is robbing you of extra resources. I find that tabs with things like Google products (docs, sheets, even gmail) like to especially use a lot of resources, but many websites have scripts that continue to run even when you are not on that tab.
• It can be a security risk. If you have multiple tabs open to different websites, it's possible that one of those websites could be malicious. This could allow hackers to steal your personal information or install malware on your computer.

Here are some tips for keeping open tabs to a minimum:

• Only open tabs that you're actively using. If you're not sure if you'll need a tab later, close it.
• Watch for duplicate tabs. For example, if you follow a link to open your email, but you already have your email open, now you have 2 tabs using twice the resources.
• Use a tab manager. A tab manager can help you organize your tabs and keep track of what's open.
• Use extensions to suspend or unload tabs. These extensions can help you free up memory and CPU resources by suspending or unloading tabs that you're not using.
• Set a limit on the number of tabs you allow yourself to have open. This can help you break the habit of opening too many tabs.

By following these tips, you can help keep your computer running smoothly and avoid the problems associated with having too many tabs open.

Here are some additional tips:

• Use bookmarks to save websites that you want to come back to later. This will free up space in your tabs and make it easier to find the websites you need.
• Use a keyboard shortcut to close tabs. This will save you time and prevent you from accidentally closing the wrong tab.
• Take a break every once in a while and close any tabs that you're not using. This will help your computer to rest and improve its performance.

Separating Workflows

A big change that I made to increase productivity is by separating your workflows. This means using different browsers, or different profiles within the same browser, for different projects. This way, you can keep your tabs organized and avoid distractions.

For example, you could use one browser for work and another for personal use. Or, you could use different profiles within the same browser for different projects. This way, you can easily switch between projects without having to worry about closing tabs or opening new ones.

You can also use extensions to help you separate your workflows. For example, there are extensions that can help you create tab groups, or that can automatically close tabs that you haven't used in a certain amount of time.

By taking the time to separate your workflows, you can improve your productivity and focus on the task at hand.

Here are some specific examples of how you can use different browsers or profiles to separate your workflows:

• Use one browser for work and another for personal use. This will help you avoid distractions from your personal life when you're working, and vice versa.
• Use different profiles within the same browser for different projects. This is a good option if you need to keep your tabs organized and avoid switching between projects too often.
• Use a browser extension to create tab groups. This can help you organize your tabs by project or by task.
• Use a browser extension to automatically close tabs that you haven't used in a certain amount of time. This can help you keep your tabs to a minimum and free up memory and CPU resources.

By taking advantage of these tips, you can learn to manage your tabs more effectively and improve your productivity.