If you work in tech, multiple monitors are almost a status symbol. The more screens, the more productivity—at least, that’s what I thought when I added a second monitor. I expected my workflow to skyrocket, but instead, I found my productivity plummeting. Here’s why having two monitors actually made things worse.
Why I bought a second monitor
Like many people, I live on my computer—work, studies, and hobbies all happen there. Juggling multiple tasks at once, I constantly had to shift between tabs so everything fit on one screen.
This was most apparent when I was studying. I would keep my lecture notes open along with presentation slides, a reference book, and my notes. I tried to manage it all using Windows 11’s split-screen feature, but with only 600 pixels per window, nothing was working.
Frustrated, I decided a second monitor would solve my problems. So, I bought a second 27-inch curved gaming monitor, thinking it would finally unlock my productivity.
For about a month, everything worked fine. I felt like I couldn’t stop. Studying became easier. I could have all my resources open at once – no more switching tabs or squeezing information onto one screen.
Work was easier too. I could open my editor on the left screen and a live preview of the article on the right. It was seamless – editing on one side, viewing changes on the other. Even my hobbies, like making music in Ableton, benefited. After merging both monitors into one giant timeline using AMD Eyefinity, I could work without constantly scrolling. Two monitors seemed like a productivity dream come true – until it wasn’t.
Distractions and the Multitasking Illusion
Once I got comfortable with the setup, instead of making me more organized, my productivity system turned into a distraction trap. I would often drag tabs to a second monitor to handle later, but this backfired. While I worked on one screen, there was always something on the other screen that would pull me away from my work. I don’t know how often this happened, but it slowly eroded my focus.
What was worse was that I fooled myself into believing that I could multitask. I would try to do two big tasks at once – for example, watch a university video while working – but neither task would get the attention it needed. By having two screens, the boundaries between tasks would disappear.
Even a simple task like ordering food became a lengthy process – I would jump between the restaurant’s website and my work, constantly getting distracted by whatever was happening on the other screen.
The same thing happened with gaming, especially online games with long queues. I used to tell myself, “I’ll study while I wait for a match.” But I fell into the reverse Pomodoro method: studying for five minutes and then playing games for 20 minutes. I felt productive just because my study material was open, but I was barely making any progress.
Regaining focus
Despite all this, I’m not about to throw away my second monitor. The problem isn’t the extra screen — it gives me a false sense of productivity.
The solution I’ve come up with is to use both screens for exactly the same task. If I’m studying this subject, both monitors should be about that subject, not two different subjects I need to study. If I’m writing, both monitors should be dedicated to writing that text or the tools it supports. And if what I’m doing doesn’t require two monitors, the second monitor should just stay blank or show my desktop wallpaper.
Of course, these problems might not apply to everyone. Maybe you’re someone with a determined focus, a well-organized system, or a workflow that thrives on two monitors without distractions. If that’s you, you won’t have to struggle like I did. But if you’re thinking about getting a second monitor, take note of my experience here. Hopefully, you’ll be able to avoid the pitfalls that slowed me down, and keep your productivity on track from the start.