For years, multitasking was considered a marker of efficiency. But research has consistently shown the opposite. According to the American Psychological Association, multitasking can reduce productivity by up to 40 percent. Every switch between tasks comes with a cost. The brain must refocus, reorient and catch up.
Research shows that frequent context switching by the average user — more than 1,200 times a day, by some estimates — isn’t just inefficient. It’s exhausting. That’s where task batching comes in. This is the practice of grouping similar tasks together to reduce mental toggling and reclaim focus. The concept has roots in time management and cognitive psychology, gaining traction in recent years in the workplace as a response to the growing overload of digital inputs and interruptions.
Think of it like preparing a meal in a busy kitchen. Multitasking is like chopping vegetables, boiling water, grilling chicken and plating the food all at once, constantly switching tools and surfaces. It’s chaotic.
Batching, on the other hand, is akin to prepping all your ingredients first, then cooking and then plating. It’s calmer, more deliberate and far more efficient. The same logic applies to how we work. But to make that shift, we need better environments. That starts with the technology we use most – the display screen.
What Is Task Batching?
Task batching is the practice of grouping similar tasks together to reduce the mental cost associated with frequent context switching. By working on similar tasks in focused blocks, it helps reclaim focus, leading to a calmer, more deliberate and efficient workflow, unlike chaotic multitasking.
Rethinking the Monitor’s Role in Focus and Flow
Displays, often seen as secondary hardware, have become anchors of the digital workspace. They shape how information is presented, prioritized and processed. Their layout determines whether someone can easily separate creative tasks from communication or concentrate on analysis without distraction.
A study on the psychology of human-computer interaction, published in the Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, confirms that how information is visually organized affects both comprehension and retention. This means that productivity isn’t just about what we see, but how we see it.
Larger screens, especially ultra-wide formats, make creating distinct visual zones for grouped tasks easier. Instead of juggling windows or alt-tabbing between them, work becomes more anchored and compartmentalized, both core principles of task batching. Many ultra-wide monitors now include built-in split-screen functionality that allows a single display to operate as two independent workspaces.
Even with standard monitors, there are effective ways to work smarter. One of the simplest is using virtual desktops to separate different types of tasks. For example, one screen for communication, one for creative work and one for research or analysis. This reduces the need to mentally reset every time you switch contexts. Similarly, snapping windows side-by-side can create dedicated zones for focused work, allowing users to keep reference materials, communication tools and content windows in predictable places.
Going full-screen when you need deep concentration can also help eliminate visual clutter and prevent distraction. Turning off pop-up notifications and minimizing alert banners during scheduled focus time further protects attention. Even developing consistent screen habits, such as placing certain applications in the same corner or aligning windows in a particular pattern, can help the brain associate each zone with a specific mode of work. These subtle shifts can turn any display into a more deliberate environment for focus, efficiency and batching.
Designing Displays for How People Actually Work
Today’s professionals don’t work within the confines of a single application or even a single device. Instead, they manage layered, parallel tasks across operating systems, communication platforms, software platforms and collaboration environments. This shift demands displays that are built not just for visibility, but for work style, with layout, responsiveness and flexibility designed around real behavior.
At the heart of this transformation is a deeper understanding of human-centered design. Productivity isn’t about how much you can cram onto a screen — it’s about facilitating clarity of thought. That’s why the future of work and productivity is all about screens that are intelligent, intuitive and tailored to human behavior.
Modular monitor systems are becoming increasingly valuable for flexible work setups. These systems allow users to physically stack, snap or reposition screens to create personalized visual environments. Think of it like building a workstation with LEGO bricks — each screen serves a distinct purpose and can be rearranged to match the task at hand. A modular setup might include a vertical screen dedicated to real-time monitoring, a center display for creation, and a detachable panel for collaboration or reference. This kind of adaptability supports a range of use cases, from deep individual focus to dynamic, multi-device workflows, without forcing users into a one-size-fits-all solution.
That adaptability is especially important when batching, as multi-device collaboration becomes the norm. According to recent research, the average employee uses 2.5 devices for work. Smart monitors are evolving to meet that reality, functioning as central hubs in hybrid environments. Instead of constantly plugging and unplugging cables or shifting between workstations, professionals can now move smoothly between devices while keeping everything connected through a single screen. This creates a more fluid experience that helps reduce interruptions, maintain momentum and keep focus where it belongs: on the work itself.
Focus Is the New Productivity
As work accelerates and digital distractions grow more complex, it’s time to rethink our approach to multitasking. The future isn’t about doing more things at once. It’s about doing the right things with clarity. And that clarity depends on our ability to focus, which can be shaped by the tools we use every day.
Displays play a central role in this equation. The right screen setup doesn’t just help organize your workspace; it helps organize your mind. By visually separating tasks, minimizing toggling and creating the conditions for deep work, smarter screens make task batching not only possible, but intuitive.
