Trying to multitask?

Focus gets things done more effectively

Are you searching for the elusive Holy Grail of productivity skills—the ability to multitask? If you’re looking to increase speed and performance, new research suggests that it’s time to abandon your quest.

A recent front-page NY Times article, (“Slow Down, Brave Multitaskers; and Don’t Read This in Traffic,” March 25, 2007) highlights recent convincing research on the ineffectiveness and costs of our vain attempts to multitask.

According to the article, “the human brain, with its hundred billion neurons and hundreds of trillions of synaptic connections, is a cognitive powerhouse in many ways.” Despite this seemingly limitless processing power, the article goes on to document a number recent of studies that show, in the words of neuroscientist René Marois, “[a] core limitation is an inability to concentrate on two things at once.” Try as you might, it just doesn’t work. And the time and effort spent trying actually costs us time and performance in the long run.

The findings aren’t new, but multitasking has such a strong attraction over us that it seems deserving of these extra nails in its coffin. Clearly, its allure is the promise of superhuman performance—of doing two things at once. Why else do we check email and voicemail at the same time? If the scientists’ contention that multitasking makes us, well, stupid, is correct, we can always blame multitasking for causing us to miss the message the first time.

So now what? The author’s closing revelation that scientists are already working on “clever technology [that will] serve as a high-tech ‘time nanny’ to ease the modern multitasker’s plight” is meant to be comforting, but leaves us wondering if it’s not simply a hair-of-the-dog solution. After all, though most of us wouldn’t give up our laptops or cell phones for love or money, we readily acknowledge that technology is partly to blame.

A more satisfying and effective alternative to multitasking is available. Call it focus, being in the moment, full engagement, being present or whatever you’d like, but simply focusing on one thing at a time is an obvious antidote. Practices that increase our capacity for mindfulness and focused attention in our personal lives are gaining popularity, such as mindfulness rituals (that include mindful eating, walking, or washing the dishes), meditation, yoga, breathwork and journaling. In our over-stimulated lives, slowing down is tremendously satisfying. In our professional lives, focus not only increases our satisfaction with our work, but actually increases our performance compared with multitasking techniques. My favorite technique for increasing focus is from a course I teach called the GO System . We call it the “Right Now” approach. Throughout the day, especially when you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed, simply tell yourself that “Right now, I am ___” and fill in the blank with one single activity. Then do that thing. When you’re done with that activity, move on to the next. It may sound too simple to be true, but it can be quite a challenge for most of us. Try it yourself and watch what happens!

Read entire NY Times Article "Slow Down, Brave Multitasker, and Don't Read This in Traffic"

Want to use this article in your e-newsletter or website? You can use this material in whole or in part, as long as you include this complete attribution and live link: Productivity consultant and trainer Cristin Lind of Clearwater Productivity helps busy professionals enhance their work and enrich their lives. If you’re ready to get more done with less effort, visit www.clearwaterproductivity.com.