"All These Background Apps Divert My Attention!"

One thing that always seems to divert my attention from the task at hand are background apps that have stuff going on. Even being able to see an apps window is sometimes enough to have my brain ask 'Hey, shouldn't we be working on that now, instead of this?'

After only being a relatively new Mac owner - 7 months or so - I've come to really love some of the apps that enhance my productivity or simply make using a computer a joy. In no real order, I'll jot them down.

Please do comment on your thoughts as I'd be interested to hear your side of things.

For the last month or so, I've been adopting the approach of my mail program not actually ruling my life.

Yeah, you know exactly what I'm talking about :-
• As soon as the computer is turned on, check email
• Email program checks every 5 or 10 minutes
• Inbox emails start to pile up to an unmanageable number
• The email program is one of the main pieces of software in your day to day routine.

Well, that's all changed for me .....