I turned Google Docs right into a distraction-free writing house — this is how

I’ve tried each sort of minimalist writing app through the years.

Whereas most of them at all times really feel excellent for a few week, I nonetheless find yourself again in Google Docs. It’s dependable, syncs throughout my cellphone and pc, and performs properly with the remainder of my workflow.

The one downside is that it’s additionally filled with distractions within the type of formatting bars, menus, and solutions.

So as an alternative of combating it, I made a decision to reshape Google Docs into the sort of targeted writing house I needed, with out giving up its finest options.

And after months of tweaks, I’ve arrived at a setup that makes writing in Docs genuinely calm and friction-free.

Silence the chaotic Google Docs interface

Construct a minimalist mode

Google Docs gives many instruments, however they are often distracting when writing. The toolbar alone is a buffet of distractions, with fonts, colours, alignment choices, and formatting shortcuts begging for consideration.

I used to inform myself I wanted them seen “simply in case,” however the reality is, most of my writing doesn’t require daring or italics till the enhancing stage. I take advantage of keyboard shortcuts for these anyway.

So, I began stripping it down. First, I hid the ruler by clicking View and unchecking Present ruler.

Subsequent, I hid the menu bar to make all the pieces however the web page disappear. To take action, click on View and choose Full display screen.

It hides the browser tabs, bookmarks bar, and handle subject, leaving simply the doc and white house. Press Esc to exit full display screen.

I modified the web page setup to really feel like a pocket book

Making small format tweaks

The default Google Docs format has slim margins and a portrait mode. I began modifying the web page setup till it felt soothing to my eyes.

I opened File > Web page setup and switched to Pageless. I additionally modified the background to a delicate grey. It’s simpler on the eyes and excellent for lengthy writing classes. I widened the textual content to about 125 p.c zoom.

Pageless mode was a game-changer. It made Docs really feel extra like a digital pocket book with out web page breaks and synthetic edges. My writing flowed constantly somewhat than being chopped into pages.

I take advantage of keyboard shortcuts to remain in circulate

Maintaining my give attention to the web page

The quickest option to lose focus whereas writing is to achieve for the mouse. Each time I pause to focus on textual content or click on by way of menus, I get pulled out of no matter rhythm I had going.

That’s why most of my enhancing now occurs by way of keyboard instructions. It retains my palms off the mouse and my consideration anchored on the textual content.

I additionally began counting on keyboard shortcuts to maintain my give attention to the web page. Now, I can format headings utilizing Ctrl + Alt + 1, insert a hyperlink with Ctrl + Ok, or begin a brand new remark by urgent Ctrl + Alt + M.

Memorizing a handful of instructions helped cut back the friction. The less moments I spend navigating menus, the longer I can keep within the writing.

I flip off all of the ‘useful’ options

Chopping out the noise

Docs is filled with writing instruments meant to help you, however in apply, they usually interrupt your circulate.

Each time a suggestion popped up, I’d cease mid-sentence to repair it, even when I used to be nonetheless determining what I needed to say.

So, I turned all of them off. Underneath Instruments > Preferences, I unchecked the choices for autocorrect, computerized capitalization, good quotes, hyperlink detection, and grammar solutions.

Then I went into Instruments > Spelling and grammar and turned off each spelling and grammar checks.

Now, if I make a typo, it stays there till I end the paragraph. I do all my cleanup in a single targeted edit later, as an alternative of stopping mid-sentence to repair squiggly crimson strains.

This one change has in all probability improved my writing rhythm greater than the rest.

I take advantage of Google Docs define function as my compass

A easy option to see the larger image

After I’m drafting lengthy articles, I preserve the Define View open by going to View > Develop tabs and descriptions sidebar.

As a substitute of scrolling endlessly to seek out sections, I deal with the define like a map of what I’m writing.

I can immediately leap to any a part of the doc, sustaining my focus and context. It’s additionally a simple option to zoom out and test if my construction is smart.

Google Docs grew to become my distraction-free writing app

Making a number of tweaks in Google Docs, reminiscent of hiding the menus and modifying the web page setup, made it really feel extra like an actual pocket book.

Turning off autocorrect and solutions quieted the fixed interruptions. And utilizing keyboard shortcuts and the define view gave me simply sufficient construction to remain targeted.

These modifications guarantee I don’t spend time switching apps or fixing formatting. This setup is ideal for me after I wish to write with out distractions.