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Simple References Reduce Context Switching More Than You Think

Context switching is expensive.

Not because tools are slow, but because switching intent takes effort.

When I’m reviewing a document and notice a unit mismatch, I don’t want to open a complex app or search through multiple tabs.

That interruption breaks the flow.

For these moments, I prefer static or near-static references.
They don’t demand attention. They just answer one question and get out of the way.

Sometimes that reference is a note.
Sometimes it’s a small page like https://mmtocm.net
that helps confirm basic unit relationships.

After that, I close it and return to the task.

The less friction a tool introduces, the easier it is to stay focused.

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