mcltyl Tab Intention Capture
You opened Chrome to check one thing. 20 minutes later you're on Twitter. Capture your intent BEFORE you switch.
When to Use
- Before opening browser/app with a purpose
- When you catch yourself mid-drift ("wait, why did I open this?")
- At the start of a work block to set intention
- When you want to stop "productive procrastination"
Trigger: About to switch contexts, or "what was I doing?"
The Problem
Context switching is a trap:
- You open Chrome to "check one thing"
- You see a notification
- You click it
- 20 minutes later: "What was I supposed to be doing?"
The intention gets lost at step 1. By step 2, you've already forgotten.
The Protocol
Before the Switch: State Your Intention (5 seconds)
Before you open the app/tab, say or write:
"I'm opening [app] to [specific task]. When done, I will [next action]."
Examples:
- "I'm opening Slack to reply to Sarah's question. When done, I'll close Slack and return to the doc."
- "I'm opening Twitter to post the update. When done, I'll close the tab."
- "I'm opening email to find the attachment from Mike. When done, I'll download it and close email."
Key elements:
- What app (be specific)
- What task (one thing, not "check")
- Exit condition (what signals you're done)
During: The Drift Check (when triggered)
If you've been in an app for >5-10 minutes without completing the task:
"What was your original intention? Are you still doing that?"
If yes: Continue. If no:
"You've drifted. Original task: [X]. Do you want to return to it, or consciously choose to continue what you're doing now?"
No judgment. Just awareness.
Catch Yourself: The "Why Did I Open This?" Moment
If you find yourself staring at an app with no idea why:
"You opened this for a reason, but you've forgotten. Options:
- Close it and return to what you were doing
- Take 10 seconds to remember
- If you can't remember, it probably wasn't important"
The rule: If you can't remember within 10 seconds, close the tab.
Intention Anchors
Set these at the start of a work block:
"For the next [time], I'm focused on [ONE thing]. If I feel the urge to switch, I'll note the impulse and return."
Example:
"For the next 45 minutes, I'm focused on writing the proposal. If I feel the urge to check Slack, I'll note 'wanted to check Slack' and return to writing."
The noting is important. It acknowledges the urge without acting on it.
Common Drift Patterns
The "quick check" spiral
"I'll just quickly check..." is never quick. If it's truly quick (<1 min), do it. If not, schedule it.
The notification hijack
One notification leads to the app, which leads to another notification, which leads to... Turn off notifications during focus time.
The tab accumulation
"I'll open this tab to read later" = 47 tabs, none read. Either read it now or bookmark it deliberately.
The research rabbit hole
Started researching one thing, ended up learning about something tangentially related. Useful sometimes, but ask: "Is this what I sat down to do?"
Prevention Setup
Option 1: Friction
- Close all tabs before starting focused work
- Use separate browser profiles (work vs. browsing)
- Log out of distracting sites
Option 2: Intention logging
Keep a simple log:
10:15 - Opening email to find Mike's attachment
10:17 - Done, closing
10:45 - Opening Slack to reply to Sarah
10:52 - Drifted to #random, returning to Sarah
10:54 - Done, closing
The act of logging creates accountability.
Option 3: Time-boxing
"I have 10 minutes to do [task] in [app]. Timer starts now."
When timer ends, close the app regardless.
The Exit Ritual
Before closing an app/tab:
"Did I do what I came here to do?"
If yes: Close with confidence. If no: Either finish now or note it as incomplete.
Output
This skill creates:
- A stated intention before switching contexts
- Awareness of drift when it happens
- A conscious choice to return or continue
- (Optional) An intention log for patterns
For end-of-day review of what you actually did, see What Did I Do This Week