Why You Should Skip Multi-tasking

Think about juggling three balls at the same time. Now, imagine if those balls were your work. As you focus on one, the others start to fall. This is a lot like trying to multi-task, doing many things at once.

In my line of work, I’ve met quite a few leaders and teams who say they’re really good at multi-tasking. But every time I hear this, I can’t help but wonder if it’s really true.

In our search for efficiency, I understand why so many of us are drawn to multi-tasking. The idea of simultaneously ticking off multiple items on our to-do lists feels like the ultimate productivity hack. However, this approach often results in the illusion of progress, while in reality, it often scatter our focus and extends the time needed to complete our work.

So let’s dive into what multi-tasking is, the impact, and also some other ways to get things boost your productivity without the negative effect of multi-tasking.

What Multi-tasking Does to You

Contrary to popular belief, the human brain is not made for handling multiple attention-demanding tasks at once. Instead of making you more productive, doing too many things at once can make you less productive and even lower the quality of your work.

Here's how multi-tasking affects us:

You get less done

Believe it or not, trying to do a bunch of things at once can make you get less done. It takes extra time for your brain to switch from one task to another, which can add up and make everything take longer.

Studies have shown that multi-tasking can lead to as much as a 40% decrease in productivity. Task-switching incurs a "switch cost," which can delay the completion of tasks significantly as the brain needs time to shift attention from one task to another.

You make more mistakes

The quality of work suffers under multi-tasking. When you’re not fully paying attention to what you’re doing because you’re trying to do too much, you’re more likely to mess up.

The division of attention leads to more mistakes and lower-quality outcomes, as the brain does not fully focus on any single task. This means, in the end you might have to spend extra time fixing mistakes.

It’s harder to remember things

Engaging in multi-tasking can affect how we encode and recall information. If your attention is all over the place, it’s harder for your brain to keep track of what you’re learning or doing, which can make it tough to remember things later.

The scattered focus makes it harder for information to be stored in long-term memory, affecting learning and retention.

You feel more stressed

Trying to keep up with too many tasks can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed, which isn’t good for your health or happiness. This situation also leads to a quicker burnout, as it places a continuous high demand on your energy.

Other Ways to Boost Productivity

Given the drawbacks of multi-tasking, it's worth exploring alternative ways to enhance your productivity without overloading your brain. Instead of trying to do everything at once, here are some simple tips to help you work smarter:

1. Decide What’s Most Important

Figure out which tasks are the most important and do those first. Start your day by identifying and prioritising tasks based on urgency and importance. Focusing on completing the most critical tasks first can lead to more significant accomplishments with less stress.

This also helps make sure you’re focusing on the things that really need to get done.

2. Break Down Your Work Into Smaller Chunks

Big tasks can be overwhelming and slow to complete. To increase clarity, make it a habit to break down large pieces of work into smaller, manageable tasks.

Smaller tasks are easier to understand and quicker to complete, giving you the confidence and momentum you need to tackle the work as a whole.

3. Cut Down on Interruptions

Interruptions can easily throw you out of your work momentum. To avoid this, try to create a work environment with minimal interruptions. This includes interruptions from people and gadgets.

To set a productive work pattern, allocate specific times to check your emails and messages. Also, put your devices on silent and turn off any notifications that can distract you from focusing. You can also put on noise-canceling headphones, or set focus times in your calendar so you can focus better.

4. Use Helpful Tools

There are lots of apps and tools out there that can help you stay organised and focused. Use apps and tools designed to enhance productivity, such as task managers, calendar apps, and blocking software to prevent distractions from social media and other websites.

Find some that work for you and use them to keep your tasks and schedule in check.

5. Schedule Your Breaks

Taking short breaks to relax or decompress can help clear your mind and make it easier to focus when you get back to work.

Mindfulness exercises can improve and keep your mental focus in check. Making it easier to engage deeply with one task at a time. Additionally, ensuring enough rest and taking regular breaks throughout the day can refresh your mind and improve overall productivity.

Bottomline

To sum it up, trying to do lots of things at once might seem like a smart move when you want to get a lot done fast. But, it turns out, it's not as helpful as we think. Doing too many things at the same time can actually make us slower, make more mistakes, and feel more stressed out.

Instead of trying to juggle everything all at once, there are smarter ways to work that can help us do our jobs better. Remember, being truly good at your work isn't about how many things you can do at the same time. It's about doing each thing well, one step at a time.

By focusing on one task at a time, we can actually get more done, do it better, and feel better while we're at it. So next time you're tempted to multi-task, try focusing on just one thing and see how much more you can achieve.