At Shift, we’re all about creating a browser that works the way you do. In our My Shift Setup series, we’ve been sharing how different Shifties customize their browser for peak productivity. This time, we’re diving into the setup of Doug Middleton, our VP of Operations.
Doug juggles everything from big-picture strategy to the nitty-gritty details that keep Shift running smoothly. Here's how he's built Shift into a productivity browser that helps him master his daily workflow.
Doug’s setup at a glance
- Spaces: Daily Driver, Deep Work, Personal
- Apps: Jira, Asana, Coda, Google Docs, Sheets, Slack, GPT, Google Analytics, Viva, Miro, Figma
- Layout: Right-aligned sidebar, minimal bookmark bar
- Favorite detail: The clean UI keeps his workspace minimal, especially on a laptop screen.
Check out Doug's Shift browser walk-through below:
Separate Spaces for separate mindsets
Context-switching is a major productivity killer. To combat this, Doug organizes his work into customizable browser workspaces called Spaces, each tailored to a specific type of task. This simple separation is one of his favorite things about Shift because it allows him to keep different parts of his life neatly organized.
His Daily Driver Space is command central. It houses his main apps for day-to-day operations—Jira, Asana, and Coda—alongside communication tools like Slack and email. This setup ensures he can quickly access everything he needs for his routine tasks without getting sidetracked. He even uses the anchor app feature to pin his email, so it's always just a click away.
When it's time for more focused work, he switches to his Deep Work Space. This is where he keeps apps that are less frequently used but demand more concentration, like Google Analytics, Miro, and Figma. By separating these from his daily apps, he minimizes distractions and can fully immerse himself in complex tasks.
“Being able to jump between the two Spaces, my daily driver and my deep work, that's really helped me as I block time off for different projects, allowing me to be more efficient within my work.”
Finally, his Personal Space keeps his life outside of work completely separate, with its own email accounts and apps like Amazon.
The hidden productivity hack: Spaces for every part of your life
Your browser might be silently sabotaging your focus. Here’s how using Spaces can help reduce digital chaos and make focus feel effortless again.
Read MoreA minimal layout for maximum focus
Doug prefers a clean, uncluttered workspace. He’s moved his sidebar to the right and keeps his bookmark bar short and tidy. Instead of a long list of individual bookmarks, he uses folders for things like interesting articles from Medium or LinkedIn, which keeps his main interface minimal."This setup kind of forces me, by design, not to go overkill on tabs."
This clean setup isn't just about looks; it's about function. His custom browser serves as a built-in tab manager—it limits the number of open tabs which helps him stay organized and focused on the task at hand. Doug's favorite customization is the right sidebar because he can split his screen when working on his laptop and still maintain a clean and minimal workspace.
How a developer at Shift built his perfect browser
A Shift lead developer shares how he customizes Shift for deep focus, side projects, and speed—all inside the browser he helped build.
Read MoreMake Shift your own
Doug’s biggest piece of advice for new users? Take the time to customize your browser to fit your unique workflow. Shift’s strength is its flexibility. The more you tailor it to your needs, the more powerful it becomes.
“Literally everything is customizable. Think about what benefits you, whether that's personal preferences or specifics to your workflow, and then go ahead and take action on it. Give it a run and I guarantee you're gonna keep coming back.”
By separating his daily tasks from his deep work and personal life, Doug has created a productivity browser that’s not just a tool, but a partner. Ready to build a custom browser that works for you?
