How to blot out those distractions, stay organized, and get more done on your Apple Mac

WRITTEN BY SHAUN MCGILL

STAYING FOCUSED ON any device that can do many different tasks is far from easy. With messages coming in from a host of apps and networks, it is likely that you have experienced an inability to work for more than a few minutes countless times, but there are tools in macOS, and in particular in Ventura, that can help. macOS has always been about bringing the app you are working on to the forefront while leaving the others ready to be opened up from the Dock, but this can have the adverse effect of taking too long to switch between apps when you are working on projects or tasks that include text and multiple types of media creation. Stage Manager is ideal for helping you to jump between a selection of apps that you are working with, and there are many other tools that you can use to keep the focus deep and your productivity high.

We’ll take you through the most useful features in macOS that can help you concentrate, and hopefully you will benefit from a more focused future with extra productivity included as a valuable bonus.

THE SMOOTHER REDESIGN

Apple does not redesign its software or hardware just to make things look nicer. It is almost always done to achieve material benefits and when you are using a system that looks and feels smooth, it does have a genuine impact on your emotions when working. Don’t ignore these seemingly small visual changes, because they do make a big difference.

A

KEEP IT CONSISTENT We would suggest that you choose a theme and then stick with it. One important area when trying to focus is consistency, and sticking with the same interface will make everything a little quicker to navigate in future.

B

INVISIBLE SCROLLING Even details like scroll bar behavior can be personalized. When you think about how you use your Mac, even something as small as the scroll bar visuals can make a difference when adjusted to your preferences.

C

CLEAR THE DECKS Stage Manager is a useful tool to enable you to focus on one app while leaving related workspaces just a click away for when you need them. It takes a little time to get used to, but this should pay off.

D

MAKE IT YOURS You can personalize your macOS experience with a selection of extra colors and themes, allowing you to change, for example, the system Accent Color. Stylize macOS and make it just right for you.

BETTER DICTATION

Once you get used to dictating text it can help you to focus on the task at hand. You should not need to worry about spelling or the formatting until you review the document later, and Apple has made efforts to make the experience even more fluid and accurate than previously. You can now dictate any word you need.