Multitasking: An Effective Solution?
With the introduction of various technologies into our everyday lives, multitasking has
become a normal feature of our busy days. Doing more tasks ought to mean that we
get more done. But does it really? Take this example from a typical day at my job.
Last week, during a meeting, I decided to send a quick email to a client. A minute later, I
had to send another email with the attachment I had forgotten. In my third email to him,
I had to apologize for sending the wrong attachment. When I eventually focused on..the
meeting, I realized someone was asking me a question, but because I wasn't paying
attention, I couldn 't answer it and I had to ask him to repeat it. Embarrassing.
Sound familiar? Don't worry- you're not alone. Research shows that when we
multitask, we are actually playing a trick on ourselves. We think we're doing more, but
actually we're not. In fact, multitasking can lead to a 40 percent drop in productivity. Researchers say that we
don't really multitask at all; we "switch-task," and when we switch from one thing to another, we're simply
interrupting ourselves to do something else.
An Alternative Approach
I did some thinking about all of this and decided to do some research for myself. For one week, I would make an
effort not to multitask. During that week, I discovered two surprising things.
First, I made great progress on challenging projects. I stayed with each project when it got hard, and it really
made a difference. Now, I no longer avoid tough assignments, I don't get distracted by other things, and I finish
one job before I go on to another - even if the job is driving me crazy!
Second, my stress levels dropped dramatically. Research shows that multitasking isn't just inefficient, it's
stressful, and I found that was true. It was actually a relief to finish one thing before going on to the next. So
how can we change our multi-tasking ways?
A Cure for Multitaskers
First, get rid of interruptions. I now know that when I'm working, I should resist the temptation to check email,
and I make sure my phone is turned off.
Second, set yourself a tight deadline. If you think you have to give a presentation in 30 minutes, you might not
want to answer that interrupting phone call! Single-tasking to meet a tight deadline will also reduce your stress
levels - as long as you meet it, of course!
My experiment convinced me that I don't have to accept multitasking as a way of life. If you make up your mind
to avoid distractions and concentrate on one job at a time, you really can achieve more.