I’ve been using a full-screen keyboard shortcut for around a year at the time of writing, and my productivity has significantly improved. Here are the top reasons why I recommend that you do the same.
How to Use the Full-Screen Keyboard Shortcut
The full-screen keyboard shortcut is available on Windows and macOS, but the process differs slightly. For macOS, the full screen keyboard shortcut is Command + Control + F.
If you have a Windows (or Linux) computer, you can either press Fn + 11 or just F11. This is one of many Windows shortcuts.
1. Single-Task Focus
I used to be a notorious multitasker, but eventually, I got frustrated that I wasn’t getting anywhere. So, over the past few years, I’ve made an effort to focus on one thing at a time. However, too many on-screen elements are distracting to me.
When I use a shortcut for adding a full screen, I find it much easier to focus on one task. I don’t see other tabs or bookmarks in my browser unless I hover my cursor over them, meaning that I’m not suddenly tempted to click on something that isn’t relevant to my current task.
2. More Space to Complete Tasks Within
I write all of my articles in Google Docs, and I sometimes find the screen space limited when you aren’t in full-screen mode. Because of this, it sometimes takes me longer to write articles than I would like.
By typing in full-screen mode, I have a bit more space than I otherwise would have. Because my writing canvas is bigger, I have fewer writer’s block struggles.
Since I can write more quickly, I have the capacity to write more articles. Alternatively, I can finish my workday a few hours early. It’s an excellent balance to the many other free freelancer tools out there.
3. Less App-Switching
Besides not going into apps to change documents that can wait, another benefit of using full-screen keyboard shortcuts is that I’m less prone to app-switching. My Dock is hidden, meaning that I have to physically close the window to access any apps here. I can, as a result, use my Mac more efficiently.
Although I try to keep as many apps closed as possible when I’m working, I’ll occasionally open some without wanting to. Before I know it, I’m in a message thread that didn’t need my urgent attention. While I’m by no means perfect, using full-screen mode on my computer makes it much easier to resist temptations.
Instead of app-switching, I can normally meditate on the task at hand when I get a momentary lapse in concentration. Once I’ve thought of what to say next, my ideas flow more freely than they used to.
4. If I’m Distracted, I Get Back on Track Faster
I’d love to say that I wrote this article without getting distracted, but I would also be lying to you. I’m still susceptible to opening new tabs and browsing websites not relevant to my work (though I am using extensions to block some sites).
The difference, however, is that I now get back on track much faster than I used to. It used to take me a minimum of 10 minutes to realize what I was doing before; now, I’m normally working on the main task again within five.
Besides using full-screen keyboard shortcuts, I also suggest adding some Chrome productivity extensions to perform tasks more effectively.
The Only Thing I Dislike About the Full-Screen Keyboard Shortcut Is This…
If I could change one thing about this shortcut, it would be for it to stop showing my browser tabs when hovering near the top. It’s far too easy to move my cursor too far up and open my tabs and bookmarks; this is a particular problem in Google Chrome.
I would happily replace the toolbar at the top with some kind of expansive window to reveal my tabs, but admittedly, I have no idea how this would work in practice.
Thankfully, the same doesn’t happen with my apps when I hover my cursor over the bottom of the screen.
Although it definitely isn’t a magic productivity wand, I’m much more productive and happier with the full-screen keyboard shortcut. Concentrating is much easier; even if I do get distracted, getting back on track is very straightforward. You can skyrocket your output even more with ChatGPT prompts for productivity and other handy tools.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Danny Maiorca.
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