published: 15 Sep 2020
5 min read | website: www.ebr.com.au
Find alternatives to Multi-Tasking
If you find yourself multi-tasking made you tired and consider taking a break from it. Actually, you don't need to give up on it entirely, but here are some alternatives to try. See how you feel when you incorporate these when possible
How Multi-Tasking and Your Brain works?
Focusing on more than one task at a time, repeatedly switching back and forth between two or more tasks, focusing on many things in a short period of time can all be considered 'multitasking' and they can all leave you less focused and efficient than you may think. This is because it takes time for your mind to adjust to a shift in focus, each time you switch your focus, you are creating another need for your mind to re-focus, and this can drain you of time and energy.
1) Single-Tasking
When you feel tempted to cram too many activities into the same space, give yourself permission to choose the most important thing for the moment and focus solely on it, if possible. (You may need to create a plan for when you can address the other activities that need doing before you can clear them from your mind, but this is part of the process. For more on this, see 'chunking' below.) If there are simply too many things to do, you may need to pare down some of your responsibilities. (Don't worry, we'll get to that in a minute, too.)
2) Use 'Chunking' method
'Chunking' is a useful time management strategy that saves you from multi-tasking. The concept behind chunking is to set aside chunks of time to focus on one specific task while minimizing interruptions, and grouping similar tasks together (like checking all email at once rather than throughout the day) to focus on then all at once during a specific chunk of time. This eliminates the extra time it takes to quickly shuttle from one activity to another and ultimately saves time as long stretches of the day are spent with greater focus and efficiency.
3) Pare Down Your Schedule
If you find yourself chronically multi-tasking out of necessity because there's simply too much to do, single-tasking can help (because you actually reduce the overall amount of time it takes to get things done) but you may benefit from cutting out some of the commitments in your schedule that are not absolutely necessary. Do you have any habits that drain your schedule but do not serve you or commitments that you could drop without any lasting, strongly negative consequences? Looking at your priorities and at your schedule, as it is now, considers if you can reduce the sheer number of things you need to do in a day, and you might feel less stressed and pressed for time.
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