Multi-Tasking - Fact or Fiction

FICTION – You cannot do two very thoughtful tasks or tasks that take both hands and do them at the same time.

1) NEURO-PSYCHOLOGY: Your brain is wired only to do one task at a time, and instead of doing two things at the same time, your brain is switching back and forth. This means that you are putting a lot of strain on your brain and that you are switching tasks back and forth which actually makes you less efficient because each transition takes time to switch. So in retrospect, all multitasking takes you longer than if you focused on one thing at a time.

2) NECESSITIES TO ACCOMPLISH TASKS: You only have two hands and so can’t do two different tasks that need both. The brain was not created to focus on two things for it will focus on one and not the other.

MINGLING YOUR TIME AND TASKS: There are tasks that you can mingle that allow you efficient transitions neorologically and give you the abilitiy to do two at a time. This mingling includes something that is so routine you do it on autopilot and something that takes more brain power. Some examples:

A) Morning Walk and Listening to Audiobooks;

B) Driving and Listening to Audiobooks (as long as you stay safe while driving);

C) Morning Walk and a Video Vlog;

D) Exercising and Daily YouTube Video Vlog;

E) Cooking a Large Meal and Daily YouTube Video Vlog;

F) Commuting and making important calls (as long as you stay safe while driving);

G) Breakfast and reading a physical book;

H) Service project while spending quality time with your kids;

I) Eating and spending quality time with your family (please do this one).

You can do two task that mingle or work together and don’t need complete focus. Find one task that take a small amount of your brain capacity (driving, walking, etc) and then add to it a task that takes more brain capacity. Try to figure out the tasks you do everyday and not have to think about anymore: walking, driving, eating, or exercising in some circumstances. Then find tasks that mingle with them walking for exercise, walking the dog and listening to a podcast (3 tasks at the same time). Mingling is the only way multitasking is a real concept because the more you try to do at the same time, the less efficient you are and the more prone to errors you become.

For me, I multitask in all the items (A-H) listed above. I maximize my time and efficiency by taking up dead space that I could be using to do something necessary. This makes me more efficient but more importantly, it gives me more time with my family so I can be present when I am with them and not worrying about what I could be doing otherwise.

ACTION ITEMS:

1) Figure out what you need to do during the day;

2) Find what can be done while doing routine tasks: commuting, morning walks, or eating;

3) Start listing other items you can do while commuting, walking your dog, or others.

4) Work to focus on making them more of a routine, such as routine to stop listening to music in the car and instead listening to podcasts or audiobooks. Changing a routine may take time, but be patient with yourself.