The Myth of Multi-Tasking
Conscious pacing is critically important in helping us slow down and focus on one task at a time. This week's e-coach explains how such an approach can actually boost productivity and work quality.
In the last e-coach, I wrote about the need and importance of the mid-year check-in. The core premise is taking time to breathe and seeing if how you've lived personally and professionally has stayed aligned with what you desire and what is best for you.
This and other practices like retreating provide the breaks you need to be at your best. To continue on the path towards being at your best, let's add another practice to your toolkit. Slowing down!
I call slowing down conscious pacing which is the opposite of multi-tasking. In terms of maximizing productivity - contributing at your best - multi-tasking is a myth!
Yes, multitasking is a common practice in our daily lives. It refers to the ability to perform multiple tasks or activities simultaneously or in rapid succession. However, the concept of multitasking is often misunderstood.
While it's possible to engage in multiple tasks at once, our brains are not designed to fully focus on more than one task simultaneously. Instead, what we typically do is switch our attention rapidly between tasks. For example, you may alternate between checking emails and working on a report, but you are not truly doing both tasks simultaneously.
Research suggests that multitasking can lead to reduced productivity and lower quality of work. Constantly switching between tasks can cause a phenomenon called "task-switching cost," where time and mental resources are lost during each switch. It takes time for our brains to refocus and get back into the flow of a task (ramp-up time) after switching from another one.
Additionally, multitasking can result in increased errors and decreased overall efficiency. When we try to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously, our attention becomes divided, and we may not give each task the necessary focus it requires. This can lead to mistakes and wasted time due to repeating and repairing work.
It's important to note that there are certain activities that can be done concurrently without significant negative effects, such as listening to music while doing household chores. However, when it comes to more cognitively demanding tasks or activities that require deep focus, multitasking is generally not an optimal approach. So where do we go from here?
To improve productivity and task performance, start here:
- Prioritize tasks - Be confident you are doing the most important things first (mitigate worry)
- Focus on one task at a time - Be in the moment, relax
- Minimize distractions - You may need to turn off all notifications for a fixed period of time.
These are elements of conscious pacing. This approach works in harmony with your brain's peak performance.
By dedicating our attention to a single task, we can give it the necessary focus, which increases efficiency, and improves our work satisfaction by not feeling so rushed.
