Is working with 2 monitors bad for your focus?

[Something Funny]

I think this is the case for me, but maybe I am just imagining things.

[Davino]

If I could I would have 8 monitors

For the moment 2 is enough

[Princess Arabia]

7 hours ago, Something Funny said:

I think this is the case for me, but maybe I am just imagining things.

You're imagining the two monitors. Ignore that, but I had to say it. 😛

[Nemra]

It depends on the type of work and your preference.

Currently, I use 3 monitors.

[Thought Art]

@Something Funny When I worked in accounting it was necessary. But, it likely can be distracting depending on how you use it. For example having 2 things at once. 

[Something Funny]

@Nemra @Thought Art I just remember reading / watching some stuff about how multitasking is actually bad for productivity and your brain. ANd I think having one monitor works better for me.

[Nemra]

@Something Funny, I was more talking about working on personal or job-related projects.

1 hour ago, Something Funny said:

I think having one monitor works better for me.

That could be the case for you.

Having one monitor still doesn't mean you will be doing fewer tasks. Your focus will only be on one monitor, which could complicate things and make you do even more tasks to achieve the same result.

Using multiple monitors can streamline your workflow because you can display different windows simultaneously across screens, allowing you to work on them without constantly switching between overlapping windows. You can also move your mouse seamlessly from one monitor to another.

Perhaps you find it more distracting and tiring to shift your eyes between different monitors.

Edited December 6, 2024 by Nemra

[Rigel]

Two monitors doesn’t mean multitasking. Some tasks just require extra real estate. If you use it to open YouTube on the side than yeah it’s distracting. Ultimately you create your own distraction independent of the number of monitors you have.

Edited December 6, 2024 by Rigel

[mmKay]

Two monitors is really just one long monitor split in half 

I's a longer monitor bad for your focus?

Edited December 7, 2024 by mmKay

[Michael569]

Depends on the nature of your work. For more uncreative , admin type of work like copying spreadsheets to emails, needing to reply to emails while reading pdfs etc, two screens are better. Also if you spend lot of time of calls where you have no contribution but can't skip then being able to work on the other screen is a benefit. 

I find for creative efforts or when needing higher focus, single screen works the best.