Multitasking means doing multiple tasks at a time. It sounds efficient and productive, isn’t it? In this article, let’s talk about multitasking. Also, I’ll share my experiences with multitasking and how I am trying to deal with it.
First, let me tell you a story. A few months back, I was conducting personal growth training in my organization. I asked the participants about their strengths. Interestingly, a gentleman proudly mentioned multitasking as one of his strong points. I held my urge to correct him as I wanted to focus on the topic I was discussing.
However, when I gave it a thought, I realized that I was no different a few years ago. It was only when I read about it in one of the books, I could relate to the harm multitasking has been causing me.
What’s the Problem With Multitasking?
Now, the very first thing we need to understand is that multitasking is not good. Unfortunately, many of us feel that multitasking is a virtue. However, it is a trap. The truth is, we, humans, cannot multitask. If I use the software engineering metaphor here, I would say that multitasking is an anti-pattern for life. It is one of the primary causes of stress.
Moreover, Kim Clark and Steven Wheelwright studied the effect of multitasking on productivity. According to their research, productivity decreases exponentially when we try to focus on more than two tasks at a given point in time.
Furthermore, as we try to multitask, our brain keeps switching between tasks a.k.a neurochemical switch. Consequently, we get more and more stressed and become less productive over time. Not only do the tasks we are doing suffer but we also end up subjecting ourselves to health issues.
My (Poor) Multitasking Habits
First, let me confess and list some of my multitasking habits that I am trying to eliminate. See if you are also doing something similar.
Multitasking at Work
- Writing code, drafting emails, or checking mobile while attending a virtual meeting
- Responding immediately to email or chat notifications leaving the task in hand only to realise that I ended up doing something else
- Switching between multiple tasks like coding, troubleshooting for the team, updating JIRA, reading articles, etc.
Multitasking at Home
- Reading books and checking social media apps on mobile
- Talking to someone while doing something else at the same time
- Reading or watching TV while eating
How Multitasking Is Affecting Me?
I have noticed and experienced the following downsides of multitasking:
Health Issues
I suffer from chronic migraine. The more I multitask the higher the frequency of headaches. I also felt more stressed at the end of the day if I multitask too much, like writing code during meetings or scrolling through social media posts.
Poor Productivity & Lack of Focus
Here, let me take the example of reading and checking mobile in between. You all will agree how distracting mobile is. Moreover, even if you think you will check the mobile for a few seconds, it draws and retains your attention for much longer. Consequently, I can hardly read anything if I keep my mobile beside me. Even though I manage to read a few pages, I cannot focus on and am unable to recall what I read.
Similarly, if I code or chat with a colleague during a meeting, I can hardly listen to what someone is talking about. This sometimes leads to embarrassing situations where I am expected to respond to a question or ask about something that has already been discussed.
How I am Trying Not to Multitask
Focusing on one task at a time is the key to being more productive at work and in life. To do that, first, we need to accept that multitasking does not help us. Once I did that, I started trying to find ways to avoid multitasking.
To begin with, in this section, let me share some of the techniques I have been following to avoid multitasking.
Prioritize
So, why do we multitask? Isn’t it because we give the same importance to all the tasks? So, when I find myself multitasking, I try to figure out the priority and urgency of the tasks at hand. This helps me to plan my tasks. Sometimes, if I am not able to prioritize the tasks myself, I ask my seniors/stakeholders to help me with that.
In addition, prioritizing also means saying no to some tasks. Often there are tasks we don’t need to do ourselves or are not required at all. In that case not agreeing to do the task or finding an alternate (like automating your bill payments or asking someone else to help) can save us from wasting our energy unnecessarily.
The Pomodoro Technique
As per Wikipedia:
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It uses a kitchen timer to break work into intervals, typically 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. Each interval is known as a pomodoro, from the Italian word for tomato, after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Cirillo used as a university student.
I find his technique very useful if I manage to follow it religiously (yeah! It’s easier said than done). Especially, at work, doing a task in a stretch ensures that I complete more work in the given time than I would have otherwise.
On a high level, I divide my day at work into three sections – learning, coding or any other assigned task, and lastly meetings. Then, I focus on that task and further divide that into multiple Pomodoro. So, I will code for 25 minutes, and then check emails, and chat with colleagues for the next 5-10 mins. However, this is an ideal scenario and I try my best to get as close to it as possible.
Avoid Distractions
Avoiding distraction is the most challenging part. Moreover, when we talk about distraction, mobile is the first thing that comes to mind. There are many techniques we can follow to avoid using mobile after every few minutes or so.
In my case, I keep my mobile silent and upside down on the desk when I am in the office. While at home, I try not to carry my mobile everywhere I go. This way, I don’t see social media notifications that often. Consequently, I tend to check my mobile less.
Another distraction at work is email or chat notifications. Interestingly, both of these are modes of asynchronous communication. We are not expected to respond to these immediately. So, one, we can fix a time to check emails and respond to chat notifications. Two, we can set rules or block notifications to ensure we are not checking these in real-time. Some mobiles come with a focus mode that blocks social media apps. We can use that as well.
Embrace Focus – Be Mindful
Last but not least, to focus on a task we need to learn and practice mindfulness. It takes time, probably years, to get into a state where we can focus on a single task without being distracted by external factors or even our thoughts. One way to achieve this is to keep reading and learning about mindfulness. As a result, our minds will be conditioned to be mindful.
Conclusion
To conclude, I hope you liked my thoughts about multitasking. Also, I hope some part of it also resonated with you.
In this article, we’ve talked about the side effects of multitasking. Most importantly, I’ve touched upon the techniques I have been using to improve.
In the end, I can say one thing for sure, avoiding multitasking helped me to reduce the level of stress and consequently the frequency of my migraines. Furthermore, I am better organized and get more time to do things I like. I am still not there completely, but I believe I will.
Dear readers, you can read more such articles on life and personal growth here.
Thanks for sharing your experience… Side effects.. and solutions also.
Keep sharing..
Thank you, Manish.