I’ll be the first to admit: I’ve had more than a dozen browser tabs open at once. It often starts innocently enough—maybe I’m reading an interesting article or researching a topic for a client session.
Next thing I know, I’m knee-deep in tabs about yoga retreats, relationship statistics, a new recipe, and flights for a future vacation. Before long, I don’t even remember which rabbit hole I jumped down first. Sound familiar?
There’s a certain restlessness that accompanies having all those tabs open. It can feel like a swirling background noise, quietly urging us to juggle multiple things at once. And while it might seem like a simple habit, the psychology behind it can be surprisingly complex.
Some of us might do it because we’re afraid of losing important information or missing out on a learning opportunity. Others might be dabbling in multiple interests at once, unsure which one deserves their full attention. And for some, it might be a combination of anxiety, fear, and self-doubt.
In my practice as a relationship counselor—and in my personal life—I’ve learned that this tab-hoarding tendency often ties back to a set of hidden fears. By unmasking these fears, we can learn how to navigate them more gracefully.
Here at DM News, I’ve seen readers respond so positively when we explore the deeper motives behind everyday habits, so let’s dive right into the seven hidden fears that often show up when our browser is cluttered with tabs.
1. Fear of missing out
It’s not just about parties or social gatherings—FOMO can sneak into our work habits, too. When you have a ton of tabs open, you might be subconsciously telling yourself that you can’t afford to miss out on any piece of data, any new trend, or any perspective.
But here’s a question to reflect on: Are you truly extracting value from every single tab, or is the mere presence of them giving you a false sense of security?
I used to hoard tabs because I thought that closing one was closing off a possibility. Then I realized I wasn’t effectively using most of them. I was simply collecting them, much like keeping old books I never intended to read.
A research study from the University of British Columbia found that multitasking (or trying to juggle multiple streams of information) can lead to heightened stress and reduced productivity. In other words, the more you try to avoid missing out, the more you risk missing the point.
2. Fear of not being prepared
Have you ever opened a handful of extra tabs “just in case” you need that information later? This might look like having three different articles on the same topic or storing multiple open emails with resources you haven’t even skimmed yet.
Psychologically, this can tie back to a deep-rooted fear of being caught off-guard. If you’re worried you won’t have the answer ready at your fingertips—at work, in a social setting, or even in day-to-day decision-making—you might keep resources constantly “on standby.”
But here’s the twist: those tabs rarely get used the way we intend. Instead, they drain mental energy. The ironically named information overload phenomenon can make us feel less prepared overall. We’re scattering our attention so thinly that we don’t end up absorbing much at all.
I once had a client who insisted on keeping dozens of reference materials open while working. She believed she was being ultra-prepared. But as soon as we introduced a structured way to bookmark important articles, her stress level dropped—and her real preparedness went up.
3. Fear of boredom
I’ve noticed in my own life that sometimes, I keep multiple tabs open simply because I’m uneasy with quiet moments. It’s like a habit that says, “Well, there’s always something else I could be reading or doing.”
But as Tony Robbins has said, “Where focus goes, energy flows.” If your focus is diffused across a dozen different things, you’re never fully present for the one thing right in front of you.
Deep down, some of us are afraid of being bored or unoccupied—because in that stillness, we might have to confront bigger questions about our direction or our emotions. Instead of sitting with that discomfort, we keep jumping from tab to tab, looking for the next dopamine hit.
By gently challenging that fear of boredom, I’ve personally found more moments of peace. When I commit to closing out distractions, I notice my concentration sharpens and I’m more appreciative of the task at hand.
If you’re prone to mental clutter, you might have read my previous post on balancing a busy mind, where I touched on finding comfort in quiet moments. It’s a small but profound practice that can enhance your daily life.
4. Fear of commitment
This fear often shows up in many areas of life, not just in romantic relationships or major career decisions. Sometimes, having numerous tabs open simultaneously can symbolize our reluctance to commit to one thing at a time. We dip our toes into many waters without ever plunging into one.
You might ask yourself: Do I open all these tabs because I’m excited about them, or because choosing just one feels like I’m turning my back on the others?
Brené Brown once said, “We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both.” And it takes courage to commit—even to something as seemingly small as a single screen. But when you do, you sharpen your focus and amplify your impact.
On a personal note, I remember when I was working on my book, Breaking The Attachment: How To Overcome Codependency in Your Relationship. Early in the writing process, I had a dozen research files open.
My husband jokingly asked if I would ever actually finish that first chapter. He was right to question it. By trying to “keep my options open,” I was delaying my real work. Once I committed to one research piece at a time, my productivity soared.
5. Fear of letting go
This might sound a little dramatic, but letting go of open tabs can feel like a symbolic loss. If you close that article or that news piece, you’re saying, “I’m not going to look at this anymore,” which can trigger a sense of regret—or at least the fear of regret.
It’s akin to cleaning out your closet and hesitating over each item. “But maybe I’ll need it someday,” we tell ourselves. Deep down, we might worry that we’ll lose an opportunity or resource if we let it go.
This is backed by experts like Daniel Goleman, who has noted that fear can manifest in small daily actions. Holding onto unneeded items (or browser tabs) is one subtle way fear keeps us from making decisive choices.
As a relationship counselor, I’ve seen how this pattern extends beyond online habits. Holding onto old relationships or old ideas well past their expiration date can hold us back from new opportunities and experiences.
The same principle applies in the digital world—closing tabs can be freeing. It’s giving yourself permission to move on.
6. Fear of falling behind
In our age of constant updates and breaking news, it’s easy to think you’ll never keep up unless you’re constantly reading, refreshing, and referencing. Multiple open tabs can be a comforting illusion of staying on top of everything.
Yet the reality is that no one can read or process every piece of content out there. Keeping a tab open doesn’t automatically mean we’ll get around to it, and it often leads to guilt when we don’t.
Michelle Obama once commented, “You can’t make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen.” And that resonates with the fear of falling behind—often, it’s based on the “what ifs” swirling in our heads rather than our actual priorities.
When we learn to accept that we can’t see or read it all, we reclaim our peace of mind. Trimming your digital load is a way of acknowledging that you can pace yourself and still stay well-informed—without drowning in unnecessary content.
7. Fear of facing the task at hand
Looking back, this one probably deserved a higher spot on the list. Anyway, let’s be honest: a big reason we open multiple tabs is that we’re hesitating to fully engage with the task at hand.
Sometimes, that single tab—maybe a work project or a financial spreadsheet—feels daunting. Having other tabs open provides a convenient escape hatch whenever we start to feel uncomfortable or uncertain.
For instance, let’s say you need to draft a proposal. You open the relevant document. But soon enough, you also open a new tab to “quickly check email.”
Then you see a headline that grabs your attention, so you open another tab to read the article. Half an hour later, you’ve barely touched the original proposal, but you’ve definitely scrolled social media and read half an article on the best diets for the new year.
This pattern might be covering up a fear: fear of not doing the proposal well, or fear of discovering it’s more complicated than you expected. By scattering your focus, you avoid confronting that anxiety head-on.
As Steven Covey famously said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” If there’s an important job in front of you, no amount of extra tabs will reduce your anxiety—you’ll only be postponing the inevitable. Tackling the task directly, while challenging, is often the fastest way to overcome that fear.
Final thoughts
If you see yourself reflected in any of these fears, don’t beat yourself up about it. We all have little habits that mask deeper anxieties. The beauty is that once you recognize the pattern, you can start to make changes.
Give yourself permission to close a few tabs—even if it feels uncomfortable. Trust that if something is truly important, you’ll find a way back to it. Simplify your digital environment to reclaim some mental white space. Even small steps can make a big difference.
For some of you, these seven fears might be just the tip of the iceberg. If you find yourself struggling to break the cycle, it could be helpful to talk to a therapist, a mentor, or a trusted friend who can offer perspective. Fear thrives in isolation, but when we bring it to light, we gain power over it.
At the end of the day, keeping countless tabs open won’t guarantee you stay informed, equipped, or ahead of the curve. Sometimes, it just multiplies the chaos in your mind.
By identifying these hidden fears and addressing them head-on, you can create space—mentally and on your screen—that allows you to focus on what truly matters.
Remember, we’re all works in progress, and progress begins with awareness. You’ve got this. And next time you notice twenty tabs open, take a breath, ask which ones you really need, and bravely let the others go.
