One Task at a Time
Believe it or not, there is a day in February dedicated to single tasking - that is, doing one task at a time rather than trying to multitask. It isn’t clear if it is actually on the 21st or 22nd, but the important thing is that enough people felt this was an important concept to embrace and celebrate annually.
In today’s world, it seems impossible to only focus on one task at a time. We have so many devices to look at and they all demand our attention at the same time. Notifications from our multiple social media platforms remind us to react to posts or respond to messages. Meanwhile, the tabs at the top of our computer screens multiply as we do research, check our calendar, chat on a video call, and write emails...and this is just in our electronic life! We have gotten comfortable with the idea that we must multitask in order to be effective in a fast-paced world. But do we?
Dr. Jim Taylor explains in his article, Technology: Myth of Multitasking, that multitasking doesn’t necessarily make us more efficient or effective in our daily lives. What we perceive as multitasking is actually what he calls “serial tasking” - rapidly going from one task to another.
As it turns out, our brains just aren’t wired to multitask! According to research cited by the American Psychological Association, multitasking can cost us precious time. This is especially true as tasks become more complex. In the end, multitasking makes everything take longer to accomplish and results in being less productive.
The idea behind single tasking is to try and complete one task before moving on to the next without interruptions. Putting this idea into action is not as easy as it sounds. It takes some training and practice if you aren’t used to it, but in the long run, single tasking will likely decrease your stress and help increase your productivity.
How can you start single tasking?
Here are some tips to tackle one task at a time:
Determine your most pressing task of the day and try to accomplish it first. Getting it out of the way will boost your confidence and free up mental space for the rest of the day.
Try focusing on a single task for a shorter period of time (10-15 minutes) without interruption. After a little while, you can increase the length of time you spend on a single task.
If a task seems too overwhelming to do in one sitting, set a time limit for yourself to start the task. If it doesn’t get done, set another time to go back to it. The important thing is to start!
If you find that tasks are not getting done because they are too complex, try breaking them down into multiple action steps. Simplify, simplify, simplify!
Group related tasks together so your brain doesn’t have to completely switch gears as you are moving from one task to the next.
These are just a few suggestions to help you incorporate single tasking into your daily routine. There are many more out there! Depending on your individual needs, it is important to find the systems and tools that work best for you.
The takeaway is that single tasking is something we can benefit from. Ready to try one task at a time?
If you would like to explore more ways to practice single tasking and prioritizing tasks, let’s talk!
