GoKawiilChandraveer Mathur/ZDNET
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET's key takeaways
Windows 11 Focus Sessions consolidate key productivity tools.
It replaces multiple apps for timers, tasks, and habit tracking.
The tool snoozes notifications when enabled.
I get a lot done on my computer, but the same productivity tool also provides distractions galore. When work and recreation are both digital, it's hard to draw the line and stay focused on work. That issue explains why I spent time chasing productivity hacks, relying on to-do lists, Pomodoro timers, browser extensions that filtered known distractions, and other purpose-built tools, all while listening to music to drown out background noise.
Also: 51% of professionals say AI workslop lowers their productivity - stop it in 2 steps
However, this complex approach seems unnecessary now, since Microsoft baked a simple tool, known as Focus Mode, into the Windows 11 Clock app that kills many birds with one stone. The feature rolled out in September 2022, and I've been using it for a few years. Focus Mode lives up to its name, does what I need, and packs enough granular control to satisfy my itch to customize. The mode's not perfect, though, and there's a good reason for that too.
... continue reading