As most of us already know, multitasking is a myth. Those who still claim they’re great at it are only great at context switching — which is basically your brain rapidly bouncing from one task to another.
Think of someone turning on a light switch. After a few seconds, they turn it off. They turn it on again… and then off… then on… off… on and then off.
Imagine how disorienting and stressful that is. If that’s not enough to convince you, these stats should.
- Multitasking is proven to decrease 10% of your IQ.
- 60% of employees rarely finish their daily tasks.
- It causes a 40% drop in your everyday productivity.
- Neurotic individuals are especially susceptible to increased anxiety due to multitasking.
- It produces short-term memory.
- It inhibits your ability to think creatively. (You know how your Aha moments come in a state of relaxation #showerthoughts. Welp. No time for that!)
Multitasking makes people dumber and weaker.
Modern workplaces are sadly designed for multitasking. We are all prone to communication overload.
The internet solved a few problems but created a multitude of others. Now, we’re more anxious and burnt out than ever. You have unread emails, the constant buzzing of chats, social media notifications, unscheduled Zoom meetings, and multiple opened tabs.
Overwhelming is the perfect word to describe these daily intrusions. No wonder more people are getting increasingly dissatisfied with their once-fulfilling jobs.
And so this is where single-tasking comes in.
Single-tasking means doing one task at a time with as little distraction possible. You do not need a bunch of stats to realize how freeing that is. Finally, there’s some wiggle room to actually think — to not constantly struggle to regain lost focus every other minute.
Unlike multitasking, single-tasking allows you to enter a state of flow, where you enjoy what you’re doing and finally feel fulfilled and less stressed.
Less is finally more.
But how could you make that happen? You have a slew of blockers hindering your peace of mind — people, processes, and pressure. Fortunately, you have the option to slowly but surely establish boundaries.
Block your focus time.
Dedicate a daily schedule to fully execute work. That may take 20 minutes to a full 2 hours. Take note that this should be non-negotiable. If someone — even if it’s your boss — sets up a meeting during this time, ask to reschedule. Most of the time, they value your productive time.
If not then that’s a problem to be solved at another time.
Get rid of distractions.
Turn off your notifications during your blocked schedule. Keep your phone away from you. Clear out the desk clutter. Even if all notifications are off, you’re not safe from your thoughts. So prepare a pen and notepad, and write your distracting thoughts when they pop up. This way, they’re safely tucked and you can go back to them later.
Work in bursts.
For most of us who couldn’t sustain our focus for hours on end, set a timer for 25 minutes, work without interruptions, and then take a break for 5 minutes. Stand up and stretch. Refill your mug. Drink water. Briefly stand outside for fresh air.
Once your 5 minutes is up, come back and focus again for 25 minutes. The cycle repeats until your workday ends.
What I stated above was the well-known Pomodoro technique. There are other time management strategies out there, as well. You just have to learn what works best for you (or for your company’s break time policy.)
Start the single-tasking revolution.
Now, I would not expect you or your employer to immediately apply this change. As I said, there are tons of factors that make single-tasking hard to implement. It’s funny how executives find other ways to increase sales and productivity when the solution is right under their noses.
You can think of single-tasking as a revolution — a simple yet radical one. The wonderful thing about it is, for the most part, you can start on your own. You are in charge of your time.
Just always remember that your well-being is never worth sacrificing. Take that reminder the next time you feel overwhelmed.
