How the Shift browser is taking on cognitive overload (so we don’t have to)
I have come to realize how interconnected all aspects of life are. Our online lives affect our well-being in the day-to-day. How we feel we are performing at work, changes how we feel in our downtime. Shift was inspired by the realization that our tech has very real implications and browsers in particular weren’t developing in the ways that we need them to so that they can lighten the load, instead of adding to it.
The mental drain of browser chaos
Ever feel like your brain is scrambling to keep up with all the tabs, apps, and random windows cluttering your screen? I’ve certainly felt it. Traditional browsers are built on an old-school mindset that the internet is all about search. But we know that’s not the case anymore. We rely on apps for everything these days — whether it’s chatting, streaming, shopping, or getting work done — but browsers haven’t caught up with that pivot. They still push search as the main event, leaving us to juggle and try to find a way to organize the rest.
That’s exactly the issue we wanted to find a fix for. Instead of forcing you to deal with a chaotic mess of tabs and tools, Shift lets you set up different workspaces for all your projects, making it super easy to stay organized. It’s like giving your brain a much-needed breather. When everything has its place, your mind isn’t working overtime to process the chaos, and you can actually focus. That translates to more productivity and way less mental fatigue.
With Shift, everything is focused within one browser window. You can create separate workspaces for different jobs, projects, or hobbies to keep organized. The product changes the way your mind sees and processes information, helping you be more productive and efficient instead of being another thing you have to optimize.
What exactly is cognitive load — and how does it affect us?
Drowning in tabs, hopping back and forth between apps, trying to remember where everything is — that mental exhaustion you feel is what we call cognitive load. It’s basically the stress your brain experiences when it’s forced to juggle too many things at once. And let’s be honest, the stress we feel while trying to work or accomplish what we need to do online can impact how we feel in our entire day. It’s surprisingly hard to shake! So we need a solution.
That’s what we created Shift around. Think about it, what if you could save up to four hours a week just by cutting out all that context-switching? By organizing everything into workspaces, you cut out the unnecessary admin work. Instead of hunting down specific tabs or juggling multiple accounts, you can focus on the task at hand.
And it’s not just about reducing the chaos — it’s about separating your work and personal life, too. Traditional browsers don’t do that. With Shift, you can set clear boundaries, keeping your work in one place and your personal life in another. Less brain stress, more clarity, and way more time for you to spend the way you actually want to spend it.
How Shift prioritizes what matters, putting people first
Something I love about working at Shift is that we believe that tools shouldn’t just solve problems, they should help people be their best. Instead of focusing on simply reducing frustrations, we strive to create solutions that truly make a difference in your daily life. And the way we do that is simple, we always come back to you, the user.
Our development process is intentional because we put you at the heart of everything we build. We don’t work on anything unless it adds real value to your experience. Every decision we make is tied back to you. This helps us make sure we’re prioritizing the features that will benefit you the most.
But we don’t stop there, we also engage with you regularly. Our Customer Advisory Board plays a huge role in helping us evolve Shift. Through ongoing conversations and feedback, we’re able to continually improve, based on what you need. It’s all about creating a tool that supports you, not just by preventing issues, but by enhancing your entire experience.
Looking ahead at what’s coming for Shift
While I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built so far, we’re even more excited for what’s to come. The world of online workspaces is evolving, and the current trend toward distraction-free environments is something we’re particularly thrilled about. At Shift, we’ve already started down this path with features like notifications management, helping you stay focused and productive without unnecessary interruptions. But we’re not stopping there.
The future holds more exciting developments as we continue to lean into creating distraction-free spaces. We’re always thinking about how to improve your experience and deliver the tools that help you thrive. So, while we love where Shift is today, we’re eagerly looking ahead to the next phase. Stay tuned, there are exciting things down the road.
Sabrina Banadyga, VP Marketing at Shift
