Chrome's tab bar gets out of hand fast, and the built-in browser has no way to block distracting sites or turn a new tab into a focus screen. Productivity extensions fill that gap: some tidy your tabs, some block time-wasting websites on a schedule, and others turn every page into a place you can capture a task.
Tame tab overload
If you regularly have 30 or more tabs open, a tab manager like OneTab collapses them into a single scrollable list you can restore one at a time or all at once. This frees up the memory Chrome was using to keep every page active and makes it easier to find the tab you actually need instead of scanning tiny favicons.
Block distracting websites on a schedule
Site blockers such as BlockSite and StayFocusd let you list distracting websites and either block them outright or limit your time on them each day. Some support scheduled focus sessions, so social media and news sites are blocked during work hours and open again in the evening without you touching a setting.
Turn the new tab into a focus screen
Momentum replaces Chrome's blank new tab with a calm screen showing your top focus for the day, a to-do list and a photo. Seeing your main task every time you open a tab keeps it in view without a separate app, and it pairs well with a tab manager if you also tend to hoard tabs.