Multitasking Or Not?

What is your definition of multitasking?

Many of us think it means bouncing from one project to another and doing three things at one time. What is really happening is that each time we start a new task, we stop the old one. We are not doing three things at one time; we are multifocusing. As we start and stop, we lose both focus and time.

Multifocusing our way through life ensures that we will always feel pressured and stressed. The work on each task is so fragmented that we lack the deep pleasure that comes with a job well done. We don't have the satisfaction of completing one task to help motivate us to do the next. And, the probability of errors will increase.

What should we be doing?

When something is important and deserves our full attention and concentration, we should put everything else aside and focus exclusively on it. For example, we should not be typing an important email while listening to an important phone call.

There are some tasks that require little concentration. And, in these cases, smart multitasking will save both time and energy. We can easily...

• Plan a grocery list while loading the dishwasher.
• Make a phone call while printing a report.
• Pay bills while doing the laundry.
• Exercise while listening to talking books.