(Or Get Everything Done, One Thing at a Time)
Multitasking was the catch phrase on most time management experts' lips for many years. Achieving more in less time by doing more than one thing at a time was considered the way to efficiency and greater profit. However, these days, it seems that many of these experts have changed their tune. Multitasking is no longer considered the way to accomplish more. In fact, it may lead to less productivity and greater stress."When you multitask, you live halfway," says Michele Woodward, a Washington D.C. area life coach. "I encourage people to do just one thing completely before you move on to the next."
Some things are relatively easy to multitask. For example, it's easy to talk on the phone and fold laundry at the same time. Laundry takes little to no thought so you can still be fully engaged in conversation. The challenge comes when we are multitasking important things and trying to juggle a number of complex projects. When you multitask, you're not giving something your full attention. You aren't giving your best so it's impossible to get the best result. It's easier to make mistakes and recent studies show that the result of multitasking is a loss in productivity of 20 to 40 percent. This is due to the time needed to move from one job to the next. The more complicated the tasks you are performing, the greater the loss in terms of time and results.
So why do we love multitasking? It feeds into our love of busyness, which makes us feel important. After all, if we're so busy, we must be valuable. We think we're working hard and feel efficient. In reality however, we are often just spinning our wheels. We are acting like the proverbial "chicken with its head cut off, " dashing from one thing to the next without ever really getting anything done. The things that are the most urgent get our attention while the important tasks rarely get completed.
Monotasking, on the other hand, means focusing all our efforts on one thing at a time until it's done. It means not being distracted by interruptions or "urgent" things but instead, working on what needs to get done now.
Financial guru Suze Orman is an advocate of monotasking. "I, more than anybody I've ever met, do not believe in multitasking," she says. "I think it's the absolute ruination of the perfection of a project. I came to this conclusion after watching the way racehorses win. They come out of the gate with blinders on in a go for the finish line."
Orman is such a believer in the art of monotasking that when she is writing, she doesn't answer phones. "I think you have to stop thinking you are at everyone else's beck and call." When she hires someone to work on a project for her, she asks them to clear their schedule and not take on other jobs. "I'm not saying they can't multitask," she explains. "Just not on my time. The people who multitask, I think, do everything to mediocrity at best."
While you may not want to go to the monotasking extreme Orman does, the benefits can't be overlooked. They include:
1) Getting more accomplished. While it may feel you're getting a lot done when multitasking, you usually aren't. In fact, lots of projects may get started but never fully completed. When you monotask, you see the job through without allowing other distractions to pull you off course. The result? You get more done.
2) Greater satisfaction. When we finish more tasks, the sense of accomplishment makes us feel good and we tend to enjoy our work more.
3) Achieving a state of flow in your work more often. Many multitaskers experience a sense that they are working much more than they actually are. They may work at a few things, feeling as though a lot of time has passed only to glance up and see the clock has barely moved. Monotaskers, however, often get into the "flow," a state that allows us to do our best work. When in flow, there is a sense of timelessness. You may look at the clock after what seems like a short time, only to find hours have slipped by. This state of flow allows for higher productivity as well.
4) Doing the job better. When we are focused exclusively on a task, we usually do it with greater intensity, making fewer errors. Priority tasks get done instead of all the busy stuff with which we tend to surround ourselves.
Pam, I like the new buzz word. Great post and thanks for sharing.
My Monothankyou.... Grin
Although I occasionally like to watch Suze Orman, I am not what you would call a raving fan. In the past, she has often pontificated... in my opinion... in areas where she does not have complete expert knowledge. The main area I speak of is mortgage financing. Although I have not listened to her in quite awhile... I used to cringe when I would hear her chatting with young women seeking advice from her... mortgage-wise... and just know that they were not receiving top-flight advice. I understand this is not a popular stand for me to take... so it is just my three cents worth...
Just wanted to let you know that this is the first post I've ever recommended to be featured. I figured out that if I clicked on the red flag below your post, it would allow me to check off "Featured" and my reasons for recommending it. I recommended this post, because monotasking is essential to our peace of mind as real estate agents and yet is contrary to the demands of our role. Thank you for this thought provoking post.
Valuable post. Too many people get caught up in new buzzwords. Getting things done one at a time makes a lot more sense. The concentrated effort on each task makes all of them more manageable one at a time.
All the best!
There is a good mix... I love to mow my grass. And when I do, I always come in needing to hit a notebook... Ideas abound. My brain is completely free to do its own thing. But, when I go out and weld, I am focused on the task at hand. If I am less focused, a little molten ball of slag dropping in to my shoe will remind me...
But, the thing to keep in mind is that there are things that we can do on remote... and things we can't. There are things that allow total focus, and things at which focus is a waste (laundry... staring at the machines until they finish is pointless).
Jean....i was the queen of multi-tasking and then had an ahhhaaa that each task was not getting my best with the multi task.
Duane.....i like the buzz word also.
Pam.....it is an interesting concept.
Karen.....thank you for your insight
Tony....effectiveness is paramount to our projects.
Gail.....thank you for the recommendation. being in the moment is the only way to go!
Kevin....thank you for the kind words.
Randy....congrtaulations on being king! ;)
Dennis.....i totally agree with you on that.
Lisa.....you are so welcome and thank you for sharing.
Lane.....thank you for sharing
Jo.....monotasking reminds me of handle paper once.
Pam, I am pretty sure that I multitask monotasking. I can get a lot done in a day!
Congratulations on your featured post!
I think I would rather do one thing really well than several things half assed. However, I cannot stay focused as long as some people, and get distracted easily.
I would say that the best example of monotasking is writing a post for your blog. Other than drinking coffee and promising the Akita I WILL walk him, writing is a monotask thing.
I absolutely hate it when people need to act busy to make themselves feel important. It is so easy to see through it. When your standing lunch date rattles off 10 things that will make it hard to make lunch..... Just for once you want to hear this: I can't wait to spend time with you.
I agree. There are some things that I do that I simply can not multi task while doing. Then there are others that allow multi-tasking. Balance is the key.
Sometimes, I feel like a dog chasing his tail. Just spinning around in circles and getting nowhere. I have to bite the bullet, focus on what is at hand and GET errrrr DONE! Afterwards, it just feels good to have accomplished to the bitter end. Another goal accomplished.
I agree, it is best to focus on just one thing at a time. If you've read "Getting Things Done" you'll notice that it's about getting your workload into a position where you can actually focus on one thing at a time. Most of us have workloads that would require 10+ hours of solid concentration to get caught up, but we can't take that time to do it. Our families need us to come home! But, really even a solid 1/2 hour is often difficult. By categorizing tasks quickly and determining the next step and the putting it into the to-do pile, things can actually get done! Check it out if you haven't already!
HAve you read the Four Hour Workweek? I'm halfway through, and have stumbled over the "multi-tasking is a lie theme" in there too. Now if we could only get down from 80 hours per week to 4 hours....
Pamdora (Pamela)...
I have mastered the fine art of mono-tasking. In my younger years multi-tasking was something I had to do and I was quite adept at it...But I literally resented it :)
When my twin Sons (who are 32) left my 'den' I discovered how liberating mono-tasking can be. Needless to say I honestly hope neither of my 'cubs' ever wants to move back home :)
TLW...ROAR!
i really like this concept as it really is hard ot do more thn one thing at a time well.
i really like this concept as it really is hard to do more than one thing at a time well.