Staying focused at work can be a real challenge in the digital age. Fortunately, Word has a little-known but very useful feature.
At a time when digital demands are omnipresent, it is increasingly difficult to remain fully focused on your tasks, especially when working on a computer. Between notifications that are constantly displayed, emails that flood in and messages from colleagues on collaborative tools, it’s difficult not to get distracted. However, the ability to focus your attention sustainably is essential to successfully complete your projects.
This concentration challenge arises in particular for users of the Microsoft 365 office suite, widely used in the professional world. Indeed, applications like Outlook or Teams, although very practical, can also be real sources of distraction that harm productivity. This is why Microsoft has integrated options to help users better manage their attention.
Among these options, Word’s Focus Mode is certainly one of the most interesting and yet one of the least known. This feature was specially designed to offer writers a clean and calming working environment, where nothing disturbs their concentration. When Focus Mode is activated, all toolbars and other unnecessary interface elements disappear, leaving only the essentials on the screen: the page and the text.
The main advantage of Focus Mode is that it temporarily hides all notifications from other Microsoft 365 applications such as Outlook or Teams. No more unwanted banners that appear at the bottom of the screen to indicate the arrival of a new email or a message from a colleague. The user can thus devote themselves fully to their writing, without being constantly tempted to take a look at their email.
Another significant advantage of Focus Mode is that it is activated with just one click. No need to navigate multiple menus or change complex settings. Simply locate the small “Focus” button located at the bottom right of the Word window, in the bar under the white page. This button appears in the form of a rectangular icon representing a page surrounded by brackets, with the word Focus written to its right. It is also found in the View menu.
Once you have spotted this famous “Focus” button, it only takes one click to switch to this “distraction-free” writing mode. If you want to exit Focus Mode, simply press the Esc key, located at the top left of your keyboard. In summary, Word’s Focus Mode is a valuable ally for anyone who wants to boost their concentration and productivity. It makes it much easier to resist the call of notifications and stay fully absorbed in your writing task. However, it is currently reserved for Microsoft 365 subscribers.
