Losing Time with Multitasking: Why it Doesn't Work
Have you ever felt like you were working hard but still not getting anything done? You may be trying to juggle too many things at once.
As someone who's always been drawn to multitasking, I understand the appeal. It feels like you're being productive, getting a lot done all at once. But I've learned over the years that multitasking isn't always the answer.
Maybe it's because businesses are set up to distract us. The workday is filled with constant activity, stimulus, and energy. And while it may seem like that's helping us be more mentally engaged, often, it's just setting up constant roadblocks to our attention.
Think about it: workplace distractions can be hidden everywhere in your daily path. Some obvious distractions include email, social media, phone calls, texts, meetings, and that one coworker wanting to chat about their weekend. But there are also the less-obvious distractions, like that one task that's been sitting on your to-do list for weeks or that feeling of overwhelm that makes it hard to focus on anything at all.
All of these distractions take a toll on your day. Gloria Mark, Ph.D. at the University of California, Irvine, has researched digital distractions and found that any interruption changes how you work, no matter the source or duration. On average, we're only able to focus on a task for about three minutes before we get interrupted, whether by digital means (email, texts, phone calls, etc.), personal interruptions, or even when we interrupt ourselves with a wandering mind.
It's no wonder, then, that it can take as long as twenty-three minutes before you get back to the work you were doing before the interruption occurred. In other words, focusing on more than one task at a time makes everything take longer than focusing on one task at a time.
I've learned that multitasking is a recipe for feeling like you're never quite caught up. It can leave you feeling scattered and unfocused, leading to mistakes and missed opportunities.
So what can you do instead? Try:
Prioritizing your tasks: Decide what's most important and focus on one thing at a time until it's done.
Setting boundaries: Turn off notifications on your phone and computer, and let your coworkers know when you're working on something that requires your full attention.
Taking breaks: Allow yourself to take short breaks throughout the day to recharge your batteries and clear your mind.
Practicing mindfulness: Mindfulness exercises like meditation or deep breathing can help you focus and stay present and in the moment.
I'm not saying that multitasking is never useful. There are definitely times when it's necessary to juggle multiple tasks at once. But if you find yourself constantly multitasking and feeling like you're not making progress, it might be time to reevaluate your approach.
Ultimately, we all have the same amount of time in a day, and how we choose to use it is up to us. Let's make the most of our time by focusing on one thing at a time and living in the moment.