Remember when multitasking was all the rage? You could even attend classes to teach you how to do more every minute of the day. It’s easy to check your email, make a call to a client, stop by the bank, all the while driving to your next appointment. Or so they said.
Until research started proving that theory wrong.
Now the news is filled with stories about how multitasking is bad for you.
Time reported that we’re wired to be monotaskers. One study showed that only 2.5 percent of the population are able to multitask effectively.
A Forbes article found that people that are heavy multitaskers are actually worse at multitasking.
Health reported that multitasking actually slows you down. That means it will take you longer to finish multiple projects than if you focused on just one at a time.
When we focus in on one project at a time, it gives us a chance to work on it without distraction. We can see the project in its entirety, map out the beginning, middle, and end. And when we complete it, it gives us a sense of accomplishment. Check. We finished something, and now we can move on.
You lose that feeling when you have multiple things going at any one time. Because there’s always something else to do.
Yet our world is filled with distractions. Could that be why we’re always so tired, so filled with anxiety and worry about what’s coming next?
Maybe it’s time to start monotasking instead.
Shut down the windows on your computer - only one at a time.
Turn off email and texting - no distractions while you’re focusing on the task at hand.
Chunk specific tasks together - maybe schedule all of your meetings for Tuesday.
Ask yourself - what’s most important? It can allow your focus to be where it should.
If you’ve been a multitasker, it’s time to put that skill to rest. Try monotasking instead and see how much work you can truly accomplish each day.