Hide Taskbar to improve concentration

Our brains work differently. Some people can focus better without seeing the Taskbar, so they started hiding it and have never regretted it.

Taskbar is a distraction

By default, the Taskbar is always present. It typically spans the entire bottom of the screen, allowing you to switch between apps or check notifications. Checking the time is probably the least distracting thing the Taskbar does.

Luckily, there's a way to avoid having too many distracting things on display at once, and one that works no matter what computer you're using: auto-hide the Taskbar. How you do this will vary from person to person. You can customize the Taskbar on Windows in the Settings app . On a Mac, check System Preferences . If you're using Samsung DeX , you can find the setting by right-clicking on the Taskbar.

Keep focused on what you are doing

Many people are not quick to hide the Taskbar because, in reality, it feels like a step backwards. But with an invisible Taskbar, your eyes don't automatically go there. You're less likely to think about other running applications and switch between them unnecessarily.

Many people also have the habit of opening the app drawer, forgetting why they opened it, swiping back and forth between pages to see if something triggers their memory, only to end up opening YouTube and trying to stream a video while working.

If hiding the Taskbar makes multitasking harder, that’s a good thing. You have a big enough screen to see all the windows you need at once. If you need more apps than that, you’re probably trying to juggle too much.

Auto-hiding the Taskbar can add an extra step between productive tasks, but it can also slow down unproductive tasks. Waiting an extra second for the Taskbar to appear is beneficial if it reduces the likelihood of you switching away from what you're doing.

Open apps more intentionally

Since pulling up the Taskbar takes a little longer, you’re now less likely to use your mouse to open an app. Instead, you’ll need to press the shortcut that opens the app drawer, type the first few letters of the app name, and press Enter.

If the app isn't open, this will open it. If the app is already open, this will quickly switch to the open window. All you need to know are the necessary keyboard shortcuts. On Windows, press the Windows key . On a Mac, it's Command + Space .

Auto-hiding the Taskbar doesn't help you work faster. Instead, it helps you focus on the task at hand. If a task that could take an hour to complete takes two hours, it's usually due to distraction.

Just like your home office desk, you’ll work better when you’re not surrounded by clutter. The taskbar will quickly fill up with icons, and you’ll be able to work more deeply if you take a moment to clear away all those distractions.