5 Reasons You Can Succeed Without a Second Monitor

Discover 5 reasons why you can succeed without a second monitor, boosting productivity with focus and efficiency in a single screen setup.

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Many people think a second monitor boosts productivity, but is it really necessary? While extra screen space may seem helpful, it often creates more complications than convenience. Here are several reasons you can succeed without a second monitor and why a simpler setup might be enough.

Reasons You Can Succeed Without a Second Monitor

More Monitors, More Costs

When thinking about adding another monitor, most individuals think about the cost. Monitors with advanced features such as OLED screens, high resolutions, and quick refresh rates can be pricey. Even if you don’t require high-end devices, the cost can add quickly.

For example, Apple Pro Display XDR costs a huge $4,999. While that’s an extreme case, even regular monitors can be pricey. I personally spent around $600 on two ASUS ProArt 27” 4K monitors. While they’re useful, $600 is still a big investment. Also, it’s possible to waste money by purchasing the wrong monitor which raises the whole cost.

Adding Extra Monitors: Impact on Performance and Bandwidth

Extra monitors not only take up additional desk space but also use more system bandwidth, which is an important factor to consider when buying a monitor for your laptop. While a single extra monitor might have a minor impact, the way multiple monitors are commonly used can significantly strain your system.

With more screens, you’re likely to keep more applications open simultaneously, leading to increased system demands compared to using just one monitor.

Extra Monitors Can Slow Down Your System

Adding extra monitors to your setup may seem convenient, but it can impact your system’s performance. Besides taking up additional desk space, extra monitors require more system bandwidth, which can strain your computer. While simply connecting one extra screen might not make a big difference, the way people typically use multiple monitors can significantly slow things down.

With more screens, it’s common to have multiple applications running at the same time. For example, watching a YouTube video or Twitch stream on one screen while gaming on another forces your system to manage two demanding tasks at once. This often results in lower frame rates in the game and lagging videos.

Even in professional setups, such as editing videos on one screen while searching for stock footage on another, the system tends to run slower compared to focusing on one task using a single display. From personal experience, my MacBook performs noticeably better when I disconnect extra monitors. With fewer screens to render and fewer applications open, the overall performance improves, reducing lag and allowing for smoother operation.

If you’re considering adding monitors to your setup, it’s essential to weigh the convenience of multitasking against the potential drop in performance.

Modern Operating Systems Offer Excellent Multi-Desktop Tools

While many people use extra monitors for multitasking, most modern operating systems provide powerful virtual desktop tools that can serve a similar purpose without the need for additional physical screens. For example, macOS users often rely on three-finger swipes on the trackpad to switch between virtual desktops and organize their applications. Windows 11 also offers similar features, making it easy to manage multiple tasks.

Virtual desktops allow you to quickly switch between windows and applications, giving you the convenience of multitasking without adding extra strain to your system. When I work on my MacBook while traveling, I find that most tasks are just as manageable as when I’m at my desk with two external monitors. Using virtual desktops and trackpad gestures, I can efficiently switch between browsing stock footage and editing videos, often more quickly than on multiple monitors, as the system runs smoother without the extra display load.

While certain tasks may still benefit from having physical monitors, many everyday tasks are just as convenient—and sometimes more efficient—using virtual desktops instead of additional screens. These tools are a great alternative for multitasking while keeping your setup streamlined and your system performance optimal.

Multiple Monitors Can Divide Your Focus

No matter how many monitors you use, you can only focus on one screen at a time. Having multiple things open across several monitors can make it easier to lose focus. For example, an empty second monitor might tempt you to open a YouTube video just for background noise, but soon that video becomes the main focus, distracting you from the task at hand.

From my experience, I’ve found that using multiple monitors can make it harder to concentrate. When I have a video playing while gaming, I often struggle with poor gaming performance and find it hard to remember much of what I watched in the video. As a result, when I really need to concentrate, I prefer unplugging my laptop from extra monitors and heading to a quieter place like a café or library to focus better.

While extra monitors can be helpful for certain tasks, they also come with costs—physically taking up space, financially, and even mentally, as they can divide your attention. Before investing in a second or third monitor, I recommend trying out virtual desktop tools to see if they meet your needs, and carefully plan how you’ll use any additional displays to make sure they truly add value.