Why I only use one monitor

Summary

In the video, the creator shares his unconventional approach as a developer by working with only one monitor. Despite the common belief among developers that multiple monitors are essential for efficiency, he finds his single-monitor setup more conducive to focus and productivity. After experimenting with multiple screens, he felt distracted and realized that sticking to one monitor helps him concentrate better on tasks like coding, which required significant adjustments in his workflow. The video offers insights into his tech minimalism journey, emphasizing the importance of quality over quantity in tech setups and showcases the benefits of the BenQ PD3200U monitor for fellow developers.

Highlights

• The creator uses only one monitor as a developer, contrary to popular beliefs. ✌️
• Working with multiple monitors can lead to distractions and reduced focus. 🙈
• Experimenting with tech minimalism can lead to better productivity and well-being. 📚
• The BenQ PD3200U monitor helps make a one-monitor setup efficient for developers. 🌟
• A single-screen setup encourages mastery in using keyboard shortcuts and app switching. 🎹

Key Takeaways

• Sometimes less is more - one monitor can boost your focus! 🖥️
• Multi-monitor setups might not be for everyone; find what works for you. 🤔
• A quality monitor like the BenQ PD3200U can make a single-screen setup effective. 💻
• Switching between apps effectively becomes key in a one-monitor setup. 🔄
• Stay focused on one task at a time to reduce fatigue and distractions. 🧘‍♂️

Overview

The creator opens up about his unique approach to working as a developer with just one monitor, despite the developer norm advocating for multiple screens for efficiency. He acknowledges that while many thrive with multiple setups, his preference is rooted in personal experiences leading to decreased distractions and improved focus.

He reflects on his past experiments with a multi-monitor setup and the realization that more screen real estate did not necessarily translate to more productivity. Instead, it culminated in a fragmented attention span as he juggled multiple tasks at once. This shifted his perspective, prompting him to explore digital minimalism and make intentional tech choices.

Transitioning to a single monitor required him to adapt his workflow, especially in terms of multitasking and managing applications. By refining his workspace to a single, high-quality monitor like the BenQ PD3200U, he bolstered his concentration and reduced fatigue, championing a setup that supported focused, distraction-free work and adaptability in varied work environments.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Single Monitor Use The chapter 'Introduction to Single Monitor Use' explores the author's personal experience as a developer who prefers using a single monitor, in contrast to the common belief among developers that multiple monitors are essential for efficient work. The author acknowledges that while multiple monitors work for many, it did not enhance their productivity, suggesting that individual preferences and work habits play a significant role in determining one's optimal work setup.
• 00:30 - 01:30: Early Career and Multiple Monitors The chapter discusses the author's early career experiences, particularly focusing on their transition from university to becoming a software engineer. Five years ago, when the author started receiving their paycheck, they decided to invest in upgrading their desk setup. This decision was made during the COVID-19 pandemic when the author was predominantly working from home, emphasizing the need for a comfortable work environment. The author also intends to share why certain decisions, like the desk upgrade, never worked as expected, offering a different perspective on setting up a work-from-home environment.
• 01:30 - 03:30: Realization and Digital Minimalism The chapter explores the transition to a more efficient work setup with improvements in technology and workspace ergonomics. Initially relying on basic equipment, the development professional upgrades to an ultra HD monitor and a standing desk, influenced by a broader community of developers who assert the necessity of a second monitor. This addition proves beneficial, especially for front-end development tasks, where code can be viewed alongside live changes seamlessly.
• 03:30 - 07:00: Transition to One Monitor The chapter discusses the idea and process of transitioning to using a single monitor. Initially, the trend is towards acquiring more monitors, such as adding a second or third to help manage multiple applications like Slack or a terminal effectively. However, despite the convenience of having many windows open across multiple monitors, the narrative implies a reconsideration or shift towards simplifying the setup.
• 07:00 - 09:30: Advantages of a Good Monitor The chapter discusses the challenges of finding the right monitor setup. The speaker experimented with various configurations, including using a vertical monitor, placing two monitors side by side, stacking one on top of another, and including a laptop. Despite these efforts, the speaker struggled with feeling cramped and in need of more space. Eventually, they realized that while these setups allowed for more visibility and access to multiple applications simultaneously, it also led to increased distractions.
• 09:30 - 10:30: Conclusion and Advice In the conclusion, the author reflects on the challenges of maintaining focus in today's digital environment. They describe a personal experience of juggling multiple screens – coding on one, watching YouTube on another, and keeping track of Slack messages on a third. This constant switching of attention led to a fragmented focus, where none of the activities received full attention. The underlying advice is to be mindful of such distractions and strive for a more concentrated and uninterrupted workflow to enhance productivity and engagement with tasks.

Why I only use one monitor Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 i have a confession to make  i’m a developer and i only use one monitor damn  yeah i know shocking right? i feel like every developer out there insists that you need at least two monitors  to work efficiently but after years of trying i’ve realized that it just doesn’t work for me now i’m not saying everyone should follow my approach some people thrive with multiple monitors  and if that works for you keep doing it
• 00:30 - 01:00 but i want to share why it never worked for me and maybe it’ll give you a different perspective if we go back to when i was fresh   out of university 5 years ago one of the first things i did when i started getting a paycheck  as a software engineer was to upgrade my desk setup it was during covid so i was working mostly from home  and i wanted to make my setup comfortable
• 01:00 - 01:30 i ditched my cheap 180p monitor for a nice ultra hd  got a standing desk, some new tech and then influenced by other devs saying  you couldn’t work without a second monitor i got one too and it was great super useful for front-end development  like having the code on one side and seeing changes live on the other
• 01:30 - 02:00 then i thought what if i had another monitor? you know for slack or the terminal should be useful right? so i got a third monitor and wow i could see everything at once at some point i had four monitors  three big ones plus my laptop screen i had so many windows open
• 02:00 - 02:30 but somehow it still never felt right i tried every combo one vertical monitor  two side by side one on top, plus the laptop but no matter what i always felt like i needed more space and then i started to realize something yeah i could see more and access more apps at once  but all of this was just distraction
• 02:30 - 03:00 i’d be coding on one monitor youtube playing on another  slack on a third and my attention was constantly switching between them i was never fully focused on my code  never really listening to the video always keeping an eye on group chat
• 03:00 - 03:30 and even though i knew  all of this was distracting me i couldn’t help myself i couldn’t stand seeing a monitor unused  so i kept convincing myself i could multitask but eventually i had enough around that time i was reading a book called digital minimalism it talks about choosing tech intentionally and optimizing how you use it
• 03:30 - 04:00 it made me reflect on my habits and helped me do a kind of digital decluttering so i decided to try an experiment i removed one monitor then another even with just two monitors i told myself
• 04:00 - 04:30 i wouldn’t use them for distractions but i’d still open youtube or leave slack and discord running it constantly pulled my attention away so one day i just said  you know what let’s do this one monitor no multitasking  just one thing at a time
• 04:30 - 05:00 i tried it for a month then two  then three and i stuck with it i liked it and it worked you do need to change how you work like you become a master of keyboard shortcuts command + tab becomes your best friend also i found   this amazing mac app called alt-tab it lets you switch between windows instead of just apps
• 05:00 - 05:30 (i still don’t get why macos  works that way by default) you also rely a lot more on multi-desktops which is why i got myself a magic trackpad overall this setup   helped me stay focused on one task at a time it’s night and day if i’m coding i’m coding if i’m watching a video i’m just watching
• 05:30 - 06:00 if i’m checking email all my attention is on that and something i didn’t expect was that i felt way less fatigue  at the end of the day no more moving between screens no more split attention  and that made a huge difference but for this to work i think there’s one big caveat you need a good monitor
• 06:00 - 06:30 and i think i may have found the perfect one it’s actually the first monitor specifically designed for programmers the benq rd320u a 4k 32-inch screen  which is super important for a single monitor setup you need real estate for two   windows side-by-side especially for front-end development
• 06:30 - 07:00 one of the biggest things i love is its different modes like one made for coding that makes everything sharper  easier on the eyes the contrast is great too text just pops plus it   has a nano-matte panel so no glare or reflection
• 07:00 - 07:30 back when i interned at an office i had this glossy apple display  with windows behind me the reflections made it so hard to focus so now i always look for matte displays
• 07:30 - 08:00 this one also has a function bar where you can quickly change color modes  and adjust blue light filters super handy for late-night coding it also has a soft backlight they call it “moon halo”  you can switch between warm and cool tones to reduce eye strain and for efficiency it has a built-in kvm switch
• 08:00 - 08:30 perfect if you work with multiple computers like i do with my macbook and mac studio there’s also a dualview+ feature so you can show two color modes side by side useful if you care about color on one side and text clarity on the other
• 08:30 - 09:00 so yeah the biggest thing  to make a single monitor setup work is to have a good monitor and if you’re a developer like me  you really can’t go wrong with the benq rd320u full transparency  benq sent me the product to try but this video is not sponsored they didn’t pay me all opinions are my own like i said earlier the one monitor setup isn’t for everyone
• 09:00 - 09:30 if you have strong discipline and avoid distraction  multiple monitors might work fine for you but if you’re like me and you get easily distracted  maybe try going single screen for a bit it takes time to adapt  at first it’s frustrating but give it a week or two
• 09:30 - 10:00 you’ll get good at shortcuts and things feel more focused plus it makes working from anywhere easier you’re used to one screen so working from your laptop  at a cafe or co-working space feels totally natural and it just looks better aesthetically i’ve been optimizing mine for years and i finally feel like it’s just right
• 10:00 - 10:30 you can watch my full setup breakdown right here