There’s a phenomenon happening with the rise of software and technology: tools designed to make us more efficient have ended up distracting us. We have become never-ending multitaskers. [Tweet This]
Multitasking is more than simply doing multiple projects at once. A “task” could be checking email or Twitter on your smartphone, and multitasking doesn’t necessary mean that each new task has to reach the completion stage.
With the sheer volume of new technology constantly released, designed for even the smallest of niches, what took 5 hours to complete in the past now may only take 30 minutes or less. This has resulted in people always feeling the need to ship things, with no room for even 5 minutes of downtime. The multitasking vortex is born.
Think about how many times you’ve been in the “zone” only to have your phone buzz and take you out of it. A task—even if it’s simply replying to a text message—is distracting.
Multitasking is often thought of as a good thing—employers love it, and multitasking is seen as an effective time management tool. Here’s why that’s wrong, and why you need to slow down your level of multitasking:
Multitasking Results in Poor Quality of Work
Being busy is not the same thing as being productive. The more you multitask, the more you spread yourself thin across each task. [Tweet This]
Focus on one task at a time instead of multiple tasks. Sort your tasks by priority: what’s most important to get done first? Put that on top of your list and work your way down. By putting all your focus and attention onto one task, not only will it result in the best work possible, but also you’ll end up finishing it faster, as you won’t be constantly stopping-and-starting.
Next time: Create a task list for the day and stick to it. Order the tasks by priority, and don’t feel the need to say ‘yes’ to every request that comes your way.
Multitasking is Distracting
Think about how many times you’ve been in the “zone” only to have your phone buzz and take you out of it. A task—even if it’s simply replying to a text message—is distracting. The distraction may not be through any fault of your own (e.g., it’s out of your control when someone sends you a text message), but you do have complete control over how you choose to respond to a distraction/task.
If you’re working, put your cell phone on silent (unless it’s the only way your clients can contact you, in which case you can silence your non-work related mobile apps). Close the unnecessary tabs on your browser. Put on your headphones so your co-workers know not to disturb.
To balance the work you do have, however, as it’s rare that you’ll have one solitary task to carry you throughout the day, break your day down into blocks of time, and assign each block a task that you’ll be able to focus on. For example, 9-9:30am can be your time block for replying to client emails, 9:30am-11:00am could be one project, 11:00am-2:00pm could be another project, and so on. This provides the focus you need, and eliminates the distractions caused by multitasking.
Next Time: If you have a lot to do, break your time into blocks, and assign a task to each time block. Don’t forget to schedule in a few time blocks for lunch or quick walks, or you’ll run the risk of burning yourself out.
Quick Tip: Create Time
If you’re a notorious multitasker, it could stem from trying to do too much in too little time. [Tweet This]
If you plan on creating time blocks to remedy this, as mentioned above, you should also look at giving yourself more time in the day to get things done. Waking up 30 minutes earlier in the morning, or working during your commute, are just a few ways to find more time to work, resulting in more focus throughout the day and less temptation to multitask.