In this world of attractive content and constant pop-up notifications, staying focused can be a challenge. If you find your focus unfocused while using your PC, learn how I created the ultimate Do Not Disturb setting in Windows with a few simple tweaks.

Table of contents

• Management Notification
• Take advantage of the focus assistant in Windows
• Configure the taskbar to eliminate interference
• Disable system sound
• Online content that stops distracting

Management Notification

I don't recommend disabling notifications altogether to set Windows' Do Not Disturb mode, as many notifications are necessary to keep information updated. However, you should adjust them to avoid unnecessary notifications. In Windows settings, go to System -> Notifications and you can find all notification-related settings.

First, disable notifications for any non-critical applications. I usually disable applications that only notify you from the system tray they are still working or notify you that they are using a feature, such as screenshots.

You can further configure notifications separately to remove banners and sounds, or manage their priorities in the Notification Center. I prefer to disable banners for non-emergency notifications. The sound alarm is enough to notify me and I can check them later in the Notification Center.

Do Not Disturb mode is another feature that is very useful when you don't want to receive any notifications at all. When enabled, it sends all notifications directly to the Notification Center, allowing you to view when you have time. You can also automatically enable Do Not Disturb mode depending on different triggers, such as time, full screen apps or games.

Take advantage of the focus assistant in Windows

Windows' Focus Assistant feature takes notification blocking to the next level when you don't want to be disturbed at all. When enabled, it turns on Windows' Do Not Disturb mode for a specific time period and disables notification badges and application flashing on the taskbar.

Enter System- > Focus in Windows settings and open the Focus Assistant settings. To easily open a focus session, click the Notification Center icon in the taskbar and switch to focus .

It uses Pomodoro timing technology, with 30 minutes of sessions, including 25 minutes of working time and 5 minutes of rest time. You can create sessions up to 240 minutes and automatically add rest time.

Configure the taskbar to eliminate interference

Aside from the apps you are using, the taskbar is where all activities occur, such as notifications, minor open applications, searches and even news. If you want to eliminate distractions, adjusting the taskbar is necessary.

Right-click on the taskbar, select Taskbar Settings , and open all the options related to the taskbar.

Disable widgets because even accidentally hovering over them will open news and other distracting content. I also like to keep the Task View disabled because I use Win Tab shortcuts, but this is optional.

Scroll down and open the taskbar behavior section, permanently disable the application badge and flashing. More importantly, enable the automatic hidden taskbar option. This will hide the taskbar and will only show up when you hover over it, minimizing distractions (also freeing up some screen space).

Disable system sound

I found Windows' system sounds very distracting, especially when they don't have visual cues, forcing me to look for reasons. If you're like me, you might want to disable some system sounds that are distracting but don't provide much value.

In Windows settings, go to System -> Sound and click More Sound Settings .

Open the Sounds tab to view all default Windows sounds and their corresponding action lists.

To disable the sound of an action, select the action and select None in the list at the bottom. I like to disable sounds include calendar reminders, exclamation marks, and instant messaging notifications.

If you find Windows sounds more annoying than distracting, you may want to install a new Windows sound scheme.

Online content that stops distracting

Most of the big disruptions come from fascinating online content such as social media sites and streaming services. If you often spend hours on these sites when you should focus on your work, you may need some Do Not Disturb help on Windows.

The best way I found is to limit the time spent on these sites every day. With time limits, if I visit a website while working, I have less time on the break. The StayFocusd Chrome extension is very reliable in this regard. It is highly customizable and suitable for any Chromium-based browser such as Chrome, Opera, Edge and Brave.

After installation, the extension opens its options page for the first configuration. You can add websites in the blocked site section and set a timer for them. The website uses the same timer. If you want to set a separate timer for different types of websites, click Add Group .

Use the Active Days , Active Times , and Daily Reset Time tabs to decide when to track and block the website.

More interesting features are the challenges and core options required . The Required Challenge option will force you to complete a difficult challenge when you try to change the extension settings to cheat.

The kernel option blocks the website for a specific time and cannot be revoked, including specific content such as multimedia, images, forms, and logins. Overall, this extension will help you limit or block distracting online content while making undoing restrictions difficult.

Combining these adjustments will eliminate all common distractions that may interfere with your focus. Apart from these tweaks, using Windows keyboard shortcuts also helped me with the Do Not Disturb setting. As a writer, I can focus on typing without worrying about interacting with user interface elements or even reaching for a mouse.

Image source: Freepik. All screenshots are courtesy of Karrar Haider.

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