How to Manage Your Browser Tabs Like a Pro

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by a number of browser tabs you have open? Has it become so bad that your computer is starting to slow down to the point that you can make lunch in the amount of time it takes for a new tab to load??

 
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Too many browser tabs can not only slow down your computer, but it can also slow down your brain.

 
Apart from the obvious distractions of having certain tabs available at the click of a mouse, too many browser tabs can also make it difficult to navigate through the material while working.

 
It can really affect your work rhythm as well while you're writing a paper or doing research for a project. I myself am constantly afflicted with this problem when I'm trying to go through source material on the internet.

 
But after doing a little research, I have found a few solutions to the browser tab blues that will help keep you focused while using the internet.

 
#1 Use Apps on your mobile device instead of tabs

 

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Mobile devices are easily slowed down by having too many tabs open in your browser. If you want to have a few tabs easily available while you surf the web, see if the web page has an app available to download.

 
For example, instead of opening and closing the Facebook page, download the app; instead of going to yahoo.com to check your emails, download the Yahoo! Mail app; etc. etc.
 

Having the apps readily available at the swipe of a finger makes it easier to navigate through different information without perturbing your focus. Similarly, many of web pages that offer Android/iOS apps also offer desktop apps for your computer.

 
Now, if you have way too many apps open at one time, that tends to slow down your device as well. But as far as organizing information in a way that makes it accessible without giving you a headache in the process, this is the easiest.

 
#2 Put Similar Tabs on the Same Windows

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Another simple solution to the problem is putting similar tabs in the same windows. I keep my work email, my work projects, and the time it takes me to complete blogs open in one window; while I have Zoho Docs and the research I'm doing open in another.


 
Obviously, it takes a little discipline on your part to make sure you don't open up unrelated tabs in certain windows, which I know is like the pot calling the kettle black...Anyways its one of the simpler ways to keep your information organized if you use it right.

 
Chrome also offers a service called "Too Many Tabs" that organizes all of your tabs in a pop-out preview form in your toolbar. Firefox, similarly, has a service called "Vertical Tabs" that vertically lists your tabs in a toolbar so it is easier to see what you have open.

 
#3 Use Browser's Built-in Management tools

 
Firefox and Chrome both allow you to "Pin Tabs" and "Bookmark All Tabs". By pinning tabs, you save screen real-estate and also save yourself from the perils of accidentally closing an important tab. All you have to do is right-click on the tab and then click "Pin Tab".
 

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The tab will them shrink down to a favicon at the top of your screen, underneath the URL. "Bookmarking all tabs" is also very useful.

 
If you decide that you're done working for the day, but you don't want to lose all of the information you have in your browser tabs; bookmark it! Click Bookmark, then Bookmark All Tabs to save your tabs to a folder that can be accessed later.

 
#4 Quickly Hide Tabs

 
Now, not necessarily a tip on how to manage a lot of tabs, this is a neat trick to make all of your tabs go away without losing them. It's called the "Panic Button" and it's available for Google Chrome.

 
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Aptly named, all you have to do is click the "Panic Button" to make all of your tabs disappear. They are bookmarked when you click it so you won't lose the tabs forever if you accidentally click it.
 

It's perfect when your brain is getting overloaded by too much information, or your boss is checking on what you're doing...or maybe you're a 6th-grade boy who needs to quickly make your tabs disappear when your mom walks in! Regardless of who you are, this is a great tool!

 
#5 Tab Management Extensions

 
You can download extensions for both Firefox and Chrome that help with tab management. Some of these extensions organize browser tabs for you, while others make sure that your computer or phone's memory is not being drained by too many tabs.
 

Here are a few:

One Tab: One tab can be such a useful tool when researching for papers. With one click, it takes all of your tabs and turns them into One Tab (who would've guessed?).

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The new tab is a list of links to all of the tabs that you just had open. In fact, you can share the list of links as a URL, which is great if you are trying to cite the sources you used to write a paper.

The Great Suspender- Another aptly named...app, 

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The Great Suspender focuses on making sure your computer's memory is not being overused by a number of tabs that you have open. It does this by suspending tabs that aren't in use. 

To get the tab back, all you have to do is click the link on the page. This is great for those of us who have computers that don't have high RAM.

Tab Wrangler- Tab Wrangler, like The Great Suspender, manages a number of tabs you have open. It is the last resort when you can't control yourself anymore, you let Tab Wrangler deal with. 

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It takes the option away from you of which tabs you wish to keep open, if it's been open and unused for awhile, it's getting closed.

However, you can still access the tabs that have been closed in the "Tab Corral". Tab Wrangler also syncs across multiple devices so if you have a couple of computer screens going, it will work on both.

 
Have fun organizing those tabs and check out our other blogs as well! :)