Do you know how productive you can be with Windows 11?

The biggest killer of productive work sessions is distractions. But not the kind that get lost when someone walks into your room. Instead, it's the constant notifications from apps, emails, and messages that take your focus away from your work. That's why many people are starting to take advantage of Windows 11 's built-in tools to get rid of these distractions!

 

3. Focus Sessions help you stay focused on the task at hand

Focus Sessions is a widget in the Windows Clock app that uses the Pomodoro technique to break down your work into focused intervals with short breaks in between. It's a simple way to give your brain a finish line and train yourself to stay focused on a task.

To get started, click the Start button , type Clock , and open the app from the search results. Go to the Focus Sessions tab , where you can set how long you want each session to last. The default is 30 minutes, but you can set it to 60 minutes for deeper work. You can go up to 240 minutes, with up to 8 breaks along the way.

 

When you're ready, click Start focus session . This will launch a screen timer that tracks your remaining work time and automatically turn on Do Not Disturb, blocking unnecessary notifications so you can focus until your next break.

You don't always have to open the Clock app to run Focus Sessions. Just press Win + N to open the notification panel, then tap Focus at the bottom to start the session immediately. By default, this will launch a 30-minute focus block with a 5-minute break.

2. Mute notifications with Do Not Disturb

One of the most useful but underused productivity tools in Windows 11 is the Do Not Disturb feature. While you may have used it on your phone during meetings or at night, it's equally effective at silencing notifications on your computer and staying focused during work sessions.

Windows 11 includes a dedicated Do Not Disturb toggle for quick access. To enable Do Not Disturb on Windows 11, click the clock on the taskbar or press Win + N to open the notification panel, then click the bell icon in the upper-right corner to enable Do Not Disturb. A small notification will confirm when Do Not Disturb is active.

Once enabled, Windows will stop showing pop-up notifications to help you stay focused. However, you won't miss anything important - all notifications are still stored in the notification panel so you can check them whenever you want.

You can also customize priority notifications to allow alerts from specific apps, calls, or reminders even when DND is on. To set it up, go to Start > Settings > System > Notifications and click Set priority notifications . From there, select Add apps to choose which apps can break the silence, including calls and reminders from communication apps you trust.

 

There is one limitation: Windows doesn't allow you to set an automatic end time for DND, requiring you to turn it off manually. However, you can schedule DND to automatically activate at specific times, such as work hours, so you don't have to manually turn it on and off every day.

1. Optimize power settings for performance or battery life

Productivity suffers when your laptop slows down or runs out of battery in the middle of a task. This is an area that many people don't often think about, which is why it's important to choose the right power mode based on where and how you work.

Windows 11 offers three built-in power modes: Best Performance, Balanced, and Best Power Efficiency. By default, Balanced mode is used to provide adequate power while keeping power consumption low. Contrary to popular belief, Balanced mode is actually quite dynamic. It automatically adjusts your computer's performance based on what you're doing. It can speed up your CPU when you're running heavy tasks and save power when you're doing lighter tasks.

However, if you plan on working away from a charger, switch to Best Power Efficiency to maximize battery life. To change the power mode, go to Settings > System > Power & battery , then use the Power mode drop-down menu under On battery to select Best Power Efficiency .

Also, don't forget about Energy Saver for those low battery moments. To enable it, click the network, volume, and battery icons on the taskbar, then toggle Energy Saver on or off in the Quick Settings panel (scroll as needed).

These simple Windows 11 tools will make a real difference in the way you work. When you can focus during work hours, you'll get things done faster and have more time for what really matters: Spending time with family, taking care of your health, or simply relaxing without feeling guilty about unfinished tasks.