Your brain is an amazingly awesome organ, capable of doing so many things at once – blood circulation, immune system, body temperature, etc. Unfortunately, the brain does its best multitasking in the subconscious. What we call multitasking is really quickly switching back and forth between various tasks, picking up where we left off each time, and hoping little is lost in the transition.
The myth is that by half-focusing on several tasks at once, you’ll be able to get more done and increase your efficiency. In realty, half-focus results in low quality work meaning you’re actually accomplishing less than you could if you just focused on one task at a time.
Approaching tasks one at a time and resisting distractions is difficult. Not only have we been taught that “busy” equals “productive,” but our lives are filled with distractions to pull us away from the task at hand – e-mails, friends, phone calls, social networks, etc. But there are steps you can take to focus on being focused and get more done.
- Create a list of everything you need to get done that day. Make it as detailed and inclusive as possible. If possible, attach metrics to as many of these tasks as you can – making it easier to measure your accomplishments and your success.
- List in hand, prioritize everything you need to accomplish that day. Tasks that are important or immediate are obviously the higher priority.
- Work on accomplishing the first item on your list, and nothing else. Put all of your efforts into that task. If you can, turn off your phone, power down your computer, and make it known that you can’t be bothered.
- Once you’ve accomplished that task, don’t immediately move on to the next one. Take some time to clear your mind so you don’t have anything residual carrying over from your last task.
- Repeat this process over and over again until you’ve accomplished everything on your list. Take the time to review your list and see what improvements you may be able to make.
Now, it’s possible you’re not in an environment where you can be free of distractions all day long. For instance, if you work in an office there will be phone calls and meetings and such. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t set aside 20 or 30 minutes each day for the express purpose to practice focusing. As you become better at focusing (it’s a skill that takes practice, just like many other skills) you’ll be able to get more done in that focus time, and hopefully you’ll be able to extend that period or repeat it throughout the day.
Scott Spjut is a writer and editor who has been featured in various magazines, newspapers and websites – including Newsweek, the Washington Post, CBS News and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Scott currently works with Professional Marketing International helping people change their lives.
Related articles
- Dr. Jim Taylor: Multitasking is Out, Single Tasking is In (huffingtonpost.com)
- Stop Multitasking to Get More Done (fitsugar.com)
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