> But if you wouldn’t watch a movie or play a video game while you’re trying to get something done, why would you keep an app as distracting as email sitting wi

> But if you wouldn’t watch a movie or play a video game while you’re trying to get something done, why would you keep an app as distracting as email sitting within your field of view? Because... I wouldn't? I use a window manager and I don't have a system tray (so no email notifications, for example). Often, I have one application open on each screen, perhaps a PDF reader, a text editor or a browser. Then, if I need to actually look at two things fairly back and forth, I'll split that screen into two, or use both monitors. What if I don't need the second monitor? I guess it could just be looking at the wallpaper, or displaying an analogue clock (that is: if I'm not looking too much at the clock, pining for the time to pass quicker!). Does using two monitors make me more productive? I don't know yet. But I don't see how two monitors would make me more susceptible to procrastination. If I feel the need to fire up the browser and go to reddit or something, that's pretty much as with one monitor as with two. The time and effort I save by not having to minimize the currently focused app in order to open the browser, compared to just opening a browser on the already blank second monitor, seems so small as to be inconsequential to a bored, wandering mind.