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Single-tasking: A More Peaceful Way of Living
If you want to be fast, slow down
If you don’t separate yourself from your distractions, your distractions will separate you from your goals and the life you want.” ~Unknown
Whoever wrote that, I would like to thank them. At times, the most subtle and insidious distraction is actually more work.
In our fast-paced world, it’s tempting to do multiple things at once. You want to get more done in less time, so you juggle. Or, at least, you try to. But is this really the most productive approach?
The myth of multitasking
In reality, it’s the polar opposite. Dr. David Meyer’s work revealed that even brief context switches can cost up to 40% of a person’s productive time.
Those who try to multitask are really just alternating between focusing on one thing and another (or several others) and the brain loses time and energy in those transitions.
If the goal is speed, speed depends on focus, and deep focus comes when the brain can apply itself to one set of data for a sustained period.
This is not to say that we can’t take breaks. We should take them often. We can even take breaks from some types of work by doing others — stepping away from the computer screen to tidy the office, for example. But this is not “multitasking.” It’s another instance of alternating tasks (also called “switch-tasking”).
Exceptions to the myth
There are exceptions of course.
In my opinion, there is only one recipe for true and valuable multitasking: information intake + “mindless” task.
Some people are able to listen while doing certain types of work. I enjoy listening to podcasts while driving, audiobooks while doing dishes, reading while eating, and so on.
On occasion, I can even send e-mails during a meeting without missing anything pertinent. I often do chores while on the phone with friends, and I know people who exercise while watching TV.
