Tab up your life !

Did anyone notice how even Internet Explorer, the "fossil" of web browsers has brought forth, in its newer versions, the far more convenient tabbed browsing? Considering that Mozzila Firefox, Opera, and, of course, the colourful newcomer Google Chrome, started with tabbed browsing as default, one might start wondering whether there's more to a tab than.. well, just a tab.
I'd say the answer to that is yes, yes, yes. And just to make sure you got my point, you might want to open another "yes" in a new tab.
Tabbed browsing is particularly useful for my work as a translator: I keep a couple of online dictionaries always open in the same window, because swapping between tabs is as easy as taking a quick breath. Then, in another window, I usually open a tab of my gmail account (allows me to permanently stay in touch with my customers and respond to their every inquiry as soon as it comes in - and when you're working as a freelancer that's excellent!). Same window, different tab will allow me to get a glimpse at the daily news, stay informed on the exchange rates of various currencies or search for information on whatever question might pop up while working. One other window and a couple of other tabs later, I'm also getting in touch with friends I haven't heard of in months and who have just left a comment on my Facebook or Hi5...
All in all, you'd say tabbed browsing is like the robotic arm of multi-tasking. But when multi-tabbing, multi-tasking, multi-living takes over you to the point where no single activity, thought or action can hold your attention for more than 5 seconds, you're in trouble. You've got "attention disorders", "concentration disorders", and all sorts of other disorders that doctors like to scare us with.
So where's the harm in this, you'll ask? There is no actual harm unless we allow it to appear. It's ok to develop your professional multi-tasking abilities. It's even great, given the hectic pace we're working at. But don't let it affect your life too. Before you know it, you'll be tab browsing between partners, between friends, between jobs, between thoughts and feelings... Once you get caught in this sort of carousel, the only way out is to stop all of the sudden, take a very deep breath (and no, you can't quickly send an e-mail or check your horoscope while doing it) and force yourself back to the time when you could actually enjoy something.