I Learned to Write Without Interruption. Here’s My Old Laptop’s Story

I transformed an old laptop into a distraction-free writing machine. Here's how I set it up to write without interruption.

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Can You Write Without Interruption on an Old Laptop

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As a writer, I spend a lot of time on my laptop. But I also get distracted easily, and my laptop is full of things that pull my attention away from writing. Social media, emails and random web browsing make it hard to focus.

I realized I needed a computer that would help me write without interruption. I wanted something simple, without distractions, so I could stay focused on my work. That’s when I decided to build a setup designed just for productivity.

Here’s how it went.

Turn Your Old Laptop into a Distraction-Free Writing Machine

I decided to turn an old Laptop into a writing and productivity laptop. I wasn’t sure where it came from, but it was available, so I gave it a try. When I turned it on, it took nearly 20 minutes to boot into Windows 10. That was way too slow. A sluggish computer wouldn’t help me focus, so I needed something faster.

To fix this, I installed a lightweight version of Ubuntu. The installation took about an hour, and once it was done, the laptop ran much better. It wasn’t super fast, but it was good enough for writing.

Next, I went through the apps and decided to remove anything unnecessary. The first thing to go was Firefox. I needed a simple, lightweight browser that wouldn’t slow things down. At first, I tried removing it with sudo apt remove firefox, but it didn’t fully uninstall. Then I used sudo snap remove firefox & that did the trick.

Finally, I disabled unnecessary startup apps to improve performance. My old laptop wasn’t a high-speed machine, but it was now a simple, distraction-free writing tool, ready to help me stay focused.

Must-Have Features for a Productivity Laptop

Staying focused has always been a challenge for me. I can be working just fine, then suddenly—oh, something interesting! And just like that, I’m distracted for a while.

I’d love to strip everything down to a simple word processor, but that wouldn’t be practical. Writing involves note-taking, research, and the right apps to get the job done. Of course, a good word processor is a must, too.

So, the next step in this project is to choose and install a basic set of tools that help me work with as few distractions as possible.

Best Lightweight Browser for Distraction-Free Browsing

At first, I thought about not installing a browser at all since the internet can be a huge distraction. However, that wasn’t practical. Without internet access, I’d have to switch to another device every time I needed to look something up, which would defeat the purpose of creating a focused writing machine.

To find a balance, I chose Min, a lightweight and distraction-free browser. Min is designed to keep internet use simple and focused.

Key Features of Min:

Quick definitions – Instantly find information using DuckDuckGo.
Tasks – Organize tabs into groups, useful for managing multiple projects.
Reader mode – Removes ads and clutter, leaving only the content.
Focus mode – Blocks opening new tabs, helping you stay on task.

I tested a few other browsers before settling on Min. Brave was a strong contender but wasn’t as fast. Falkon and Midori didn’t run well on my machine. Min was the best fit for my needs.

One mistake I made was uninstalling Firefox too soon. Since Min isn’t available in the default App Center, I had to install another browser first to download it. Lesson learned—always have a backup plan!

Choosing the Right Writing and Productivity Tools to Write Without Interruption

Once my laptop was set up, I needed the right software to keep my work simple and distraction-free. A good word processor and note-taking app were essential, along with a few extra tools to help me stay focused.

Distraction-Free Writing: FocusWriter

For writing, I chose FocusWriter, a lightweight word processor designed to eliminate distractions. It helps you focus on writing without unnecessary features getting in the way.

Why FocusWriter?

Focus Text – Fades previous text based on your preferences, keeping your attention on what you’re typing.
Daily Goals – Set goals by word count or time spent writing.
Typewriter Sounds – Adds an old-school typewriter effect, which can be oddly soothing.
Custom Themes – Personalize the look to suit your style.

FocusWriter does exactly what I need—it provides a clean, simple space to write without distractions.

Organized Note-Taking: Zim Desktop Wiki

A good note-taking app was another must-have. After trying a few options, I went with Zim Desktop Wiki. I had used it before and liked how it allowed me to organize thoughts and research in a structured way.

Why Zim Desktop Wiki?

Logical Structure – Organize notes by project, with sub-pages for better categorization.
Easy Linking – Connect notes, external files, or resources for quick reference.
Simple File Format – Saves notes as plain .txt files, making sharing and backup easy.

I briefly considered using Zim as my main writing app, but FocusWriter’s clean interface was better for keeping my attention on writing.

Other Must-Have Productivity Tools

Before calling this setup complete, I needed to address a couple of extra details.

File Sharing Between Windows and Linux

I needed a simple way to transfer files between my Linux laptop and Windows PC. Rather than installing extra software, I went with the easiest solution—Dropbox. Logging into my account gave me instant access to my files, no extra setup required.

Staying Focused with Pomodoro

To help with concentration, I installed a Pomodoro timer. The Pomodoro technique breaks work into 25-minute sessions, with short breaks in between. It keeps me productive without feeling overwhelmed. The app also lets me customize session lengths to fit my workflow.

Did the Setup Improve Productivity?

Yes! Setting up my old laptop as a distraction-free writing machine only took a few hours, and the result was well worth it.

Do I use it every day? No. Sometimes, I need access to all the tools on my main computer. But I do use this setup two to three times a week, and when I do, my productivity improves significantly.

In the end, this setup is like having a quiet room—a dedicated space for focused, distraction-free work.

Priya Bhadaurja4 weeks ago

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