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Multitasking – Can it Help You Get More Done?

All you need to know, really, is in this summary of a recent article…Many of us think that multitasking is the best way to get through the demands of our working day. This is a myth! The reality is that multitasking:

• lowers the quality of our work

• reduces our ability to focus

• and can actually cost us time

“It’s important to stop multitasking as soon as you realize you’re doing it. Schedule your day into blocks of time, try to minimize and manage interruptions, and work on improving your concentration.Controlling your tendency to multitask could have surprising benefits. You probably find that you get more done, feel less stress, and have more energy at the end of the day.”

The author offers us some ways to spot our multitasking tendencies, and ways to curb the bad habit of trying to do more than one thing at a time:

• If you have several pages or tabs open on your computer, then you’re probably multitasking. The same goes for your desk – if you have several folders or papers out that you’re working on, you may well be multitasking.

• Multitasking is more likely when you’re working on a project or task you’re not excited about. For instance, conducting a spreadsheet analysis might be an unwelcome task, so you might frequently check your email or do some research on a new assignment in order to lessen the pain of the current task.

• Frequent interruptions can also cause you to multitask. For instance, you might be writing your department’s budget when a colleague comes into your office with a question for you. You then carry on trying to tinker with the budget as you answer their question.

How to Stop Multitasking

If we want to improve the quality of our work, lower our stress levels, and become more efficient, then we need get out of the multitasking habit. Here are some suggestions to help you cut back on multitasking:

• Plan your day in blocks. Set specific times for returning calls, answering emails, and doing research.

• Manage your interruptions. Keep a log showing who interrupts you the most, and how urgent the requests are. Once you’ve compiled a week’s worth of interruptions, politely but assertively approach your colleagues with a view to managing and reducing their interruptions.

• Learn how to improve your concentration so that you can focus properly on one task at a time. Doing this may feel awkward at first if you frequently multitask. But you’ll be surprised at how much you get done just by concentrating on one thing at a time.

• Every time you go to check your email or take a call when you’re actually supposed to be doing something else, take a deep breath and resist the urge. Focus your attention back to what you’re supposed to be doing.

• If you get an audible or visual alert when emails come in, turn this off. This can help you avoid the temptation to check your inbox whenever you get new mail.

The author writes, “Whenever you find yourself multitasking, stop. Take five minutes to sit quietly at your desk with your eyes closed. Even short breaks like this can refocus your mind, lower your stress levels, and improve your concentration. Plus it can give your brain a welcome break during a hectic day.”  What a great suggestion! There are others…

• There will be times when something urgent comes up and you can’t avoid interruptions. But instead of trying to multitask through these, stop and make a note of where you left your current task. Record any thoughts you had about how to move forward. Then deal with the immediate problem, before going back to what you were doing. This way you’ll be able to handle both tasks well, and you’ll leave yourself with some clues to help you restart the original task more quickly.

• If you find your mind wandering when you should be focusing on something else, you need to guide your thoughts back to what you are doing by putting yourself in the moment. For example, you might be sitting in an important team meeting, but thinking about a speech you’ll be giving soon. Tell yourself, “I am in this meeting, and need to focus on what I’m learning here.” Often, acknowledging the moment can help keep you focused.

Again, this information is from James Manktelow, of Mind Tools. Thanks, James!

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