There used to be a time when people only used computers as a working tool. Back then, most computers barely had enough processing power to run basic applications. And in some sense, we could argue that those limitations allowed people to focus on work.

However, our world is now driven by powerful computers, and we're surrounded by distractions. There is no turning back time, but there are strategies you can take advantage of to help you work more productively on your computer.

1. Plan Your Day With Toggl Track

Screenshot of desktop toggl track app

These days, it can be pretty easy for you to spend an entire day in front of your computer screen without doing anything productive. That’s because most online distractions have one main priority: competing for your attention.

This is why social media platforms, news outlets, streaming services, etc., are carefully curated for engagement to increase their profit margins. Reed Hastings, Netflix CEO, says the company's biggest competition is sleep.

So, what are your priorities?

If you want to use your computer as an effective working tool, then you need to plan your day and be mindful of what you are doing while using the device.

You can use a time tracking software like Toggl Track to outline your tasks of the day and focus on accomplishing them. You can use it to boost your productivity and take much-needed breaks at preset time intervals by activating features such as reminders, idle detection, and the Pomodoro Timer.

Download: Toggl Track for Android | iOS | Desktop

2. Stay on Track With Momentum

screenshot of momentum extension

Chances are, you might still find yourself wandering around the web after outlining your tasks for the day. You keep receiving notifications from all sorts of apps, and you wish you could activate the Do Not Disturb mode, just like you do on your smartphone. Don’t worry! Your Windows computer has got you covered with Focus Assist.

You can activate it by opening Settings through the cog icon on your Start menu. Click on System, and then Focus assist. You can set it up to turn on automatically or enable it manually at your convenience.

Does your task require your total concentration and a lot of writing? You can use Calmly Writer to do that by avoiding all the numerous options from conventional word processors, such as font styles and sizes. You only get to focus on writing.

Are you about to open a new tab to a film recommendation site for new movies? Momentum will display a beautiful photograph on the new tab with your preset area of focus for the day and a motivational quote. Hopefully, this will be enough to remind you to stay on track and prevent you from opening the 13 subsequent tabs.

Download: Momentum for Desktop

3. Cut Down Browsing Time With LeechBlock

screenshot of LeechBlock extension

These days, it seems like being online all the time has become an unspoken rule of our society. And that’s probably why you do your best to respond to everyone’s messages, even during working hours.

But the question is, do you need to be online when working on your computer? Are those messages helping you to get things done? If your answer is no, then turning off your Wi-Fi will allow you to focus on work.

But if you need the Internet to work, you can cut down online distractions using a browser extension like LeechBlock. This extension allows you to schedule times for distracting apps or web pages to be blocked. Alternatively, you can also choose to limit your time on such sites/apps. For example, you can choose to access your Facebook profile for 15 minutes between a set time interval.

Download: LeechBlock for Desktop

4. Pin Useful Icons on Your Taskbar

screenshot of taskbar

Another helpful trick to turn your PC into a more effective working tool is pinning your handy shortcuts on your taskbar. This will save you precious time by making it easier for you to locate them.

You can do that by right-clicking on the program and choosing the Pin to taskbar option. You can do the same for the websites you commonly use to work. Open Microsoft Edge, go to the website you want to pin, and click on the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Go to More tools, and click on Pin to taskbar.

You can reverse the process if you want to free up your taskbar by removing the shortcuts that you don’t use frequently. Go to the taskbar, right-click on the shortcut you wish to remove, and select Unpin from taskbar.

5. Work in Full-Screen Mode

screenshot of work in full-screen mode

For most people, multitasking is not an achievable practice, but computers are very effective at it. The new tab options on web browsers and the taskbar on your desktop are regular reminders that you could be working on more pages or applications, gradually taking your attention away from your primary task.

Constantly bouncing back and forth between different applications hurts your focus and makes you more prone to mistakes. You can quickly solve this by working in full-screen mode. Just hit F11 to trigger the full-screen mode. If that does not work, you can just hide the taskbar.

Related: How to Hide the Taskbar on Windows

6. Clean Your Desktop

screenshot of wallpaper organizer site

You won’t be able to work productively if you are always looking for files or applications on your desktop because it is filled with all sorts of screenshots, images, and documents. What's more, a cluttered desktop can also be an additional source of distraction.

You can tidy up your desktop by deleting unnecessary files and organizing the useful ones in folders. You can also use a Desktop Wallpaper Organizer with the built-in organization to add a personal touch to your desktop.

Related: Desktop Wallpapers to Inspire Your Work Every Day

Set Yourself Up for a Productive Day

In the end, you are in charge. It is up to you to use your computer to wander around the web or as an effective working tool. If you choose the latter, these strategies will help you optimize your productivity when working on your computer.