How many internet browser tabs do you currently have open? On the laptop into which I spill these thoughts, I currently have forty-two open tabs (although I just closed two of those—my calendar and email— that were completely unnecessary for me to keep open). On my phone,— okay, prepare yourself— I currently have 341 open tabs.
In my college writing classes, one of the generative writing practices I share is to make a list of the topics associated with one’s open tabs (or internet history, for people who do not keep any tabs open —????? how do you live???) when you feel like you don’t have any ideas. Inevitably, when I share my current tab count, someone will say “Oh my gosh, do you have ADHD?” to which I will always reply “No. I am just interested in the world.” This spring, however, one of my students pointed out what a drain on my battery all of these open tabs are, and that prompted me to think of ways that I could close these tabs.
Although it is truly second nature to me, I don’t think this kind of tab behavior is universally understood. Case in point: my husband Brian used my laptop for some sort of task a few years ago AND CLOSED ALL OF MY TABS. “Why did you have all those things open, anyway?” he asked.
So, I’ll tell you why: when I find something I’m interested in learning more about, reading later, or otherwise holding in abeyance for the future, I simply leave the tab open so I don’t forget about it. The tab relieves my brain of the impossible task of remembering all of my ideas all the time.
In order to close a tab, I need a way or place to record the tab.
I’m going to create a google doc with a list of all of my tabs.
I’m going to write about some of those open tabs here to help me clarify what is is I’m interested in AND to share cool stuff with you.
So, without any further preambling, here are the tabs I’m closing this week:
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