Multitasking Is A Lie

“To do two things at once, is to do neither.” Publilius Syrus

To continue responding to the messages from my recent blog about how to organize your day for maximum efficiency, this week I’ll be talking about a statement I made that caused a bit of a stir with some people. I said that, multi-tasking does not work. (“Multitasking is a Lie.")

Of course, I had a couple of people tell me that they are great at multitasking. Which, I’m sure they are. But being good at something that isn’t a good thing… still doesn’t make for an effective practice. (It’s kind of like saying you’re good at drinking. Doesn’t mean getting drunk is good for you.) 😉

There is a common misconception that multitasking is a great way to get more done in a shorter period of time. Quite the contrary actually. Multitasking is really not as time efficient as you’d think. As a matter of fact, studies show that the time it takes you to complete tasks can increase up to 25% for even the littlest, simplest tasks. And well over 100% for very complicated tasks. I can totally attest to this one with something as simple as cooking supper and watching tv at the same time. I get sidetracked watching the show and it takes me twice as long to cook every time.

In addition, the more time you spend switching between tasks (and BTW, that’s really what happens with multi-tasking because your brain truly cannot focus effectively on two tasks at once) the less likely you are to get back to your original task. So you end up leaving a lot of things unfinished. In many respects, multitasking could be considered a form of distraction. (Could be what happens when you get off track with some of your goals, right?)

Multitasking causes you to make more mistakes, poorer decisions and it creates more stress. So why would you multi-task? I know I’m guilty of it too. And sure, it’s okay to do it sometimes. Like cooking supper and watching tv at the same time - if you can handle it. But when it comes to marking important tasks off your to-do list, if you’ll change your habits so that you work on one thing at a time (which means blocking out time in your schedule for important things you want to accomplish), then focus and eliminate distractions. I guarantee you’ll have better results in a shorter amount of time.

And trust me, I understand that the way of the world has become such that it often feels like there’s always more to do and less time to do it. So, in our quest to keep our heads above water, society has created multitasking monsters out of us. You are not alone if you are always hurrying to get things done and pushing yourself beyond your limits just to get ahead. But I can promise you that if you multitask to do more, you’ll end up being less efficient in the long run.

So, if you are someone that has gotten caught in the trap of believing that multitasking is an effective way to get more tasks accomplished and you “have to multitask in order to get everything done”, it’s time to break that belief and that habit! Go back and review the list of tips to organize your day with an open mind and a fresh perspective that you will do them all without multitasking. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much more effective and efficient you are at getting things done and doing it all with a lot less stress!

***Still don't believe me and need more proof that Multitasking is a Lie? Click HERE to check out this short video and sign up for a 30 day free trial of the app that has dramatically helped me get more done in my day. 

***Need help changing some of your habits so you can be more effective and efficient in your life? Don't miss the opportunity to schedule your FREE 30-Minute KickStart Session and let me help you get started now.