Nothing is more precious than time, and the rhythm of modern life is faster than anywhere in history, and it won't be faster. There are more and more demands about our time and other things we have to deal with. Not only that, but you also expect to be able to deal with many of these things at the same time.
Multitasking seems to be the norm and we are all expected to do so. But is multitasking the most effective way to manage your time? Can you focus on more than one activity at a time and pay your full attention? Will you end up doing more and doing it right if you do more than one thing at a time?
Let's take a look at some simple examples.
Can you read and watch TV at the same time and focus on both? Maybe if what you read and observe is pretty easy, but what if it's complex?
How about eating an apple while driving and concentrating on a conversation on the radio? I think you can do it very simply, but when you think about it, eating an apple doesn't require concentration, and driving is second-nature that requires limited concentration. I think it would be a different story if you had to try to navigate your way through heavy traffic in an unknown area or drive through torrential rains or snow.
How about driving and using a mobile phone? I think the same applies to the previous one, and the use of mobile phones is now illegal in many countries because it is accepted that it can cause accidents.
Readers can get teased because it is generally accepted that women are much better at multitasking than men. I am sure that this is true, mainly because of the skills and instincts that have been learned and adapted over several thousand years, until the days when our homes were caves.
Women had to be able to raise children, cook, make clothes, grow wheat, and much more. Maybe they didn't all do them at the same time, but whatever they did, they also had to keep an eye on their children and relatives to make sure they weren't in danger and that there were no intruders or wildlife nearby. The most important thing men had to do was go hunting for dinosaurs and find food for the family without being eaten alive.
But if you're working on more than one task at a time, give one of them all your attention and use your time more efficiently?
It is estimated that each task can take up to 10 times longer if you keep going out and coming back. This is because you can rarely immediately recover exactly where you left off. Typically, you need to spend time familiarizing yourself with the material again, which means you need to return again and maybe even repeat the work you've already done.
Isn't it similar to what we do when we try to do more than one thing at a time? Most of us will find that over a working day we have to cope with a constant stream of phone interruptions, emails, colleagues, etc. We are already distracted by our work and productivity reduction. Don't try to do too many things at once, is it even worse?
If you're working on a single task without interruptions or distractions until it's complete, you can certainly perform the task much faster and more efficiently.
If you are working on a large project, it will not always be possible, and working on the same thing for restless hours can be counterproductive. In these cases, splitting things into manageable parts and working on each section until you're done, then taking a break or switching to something else, can help keep you mentally and more effectively awake.
Effective time management is one of the most important skills when you take success seriously. If you're trying to juggle multiple tasks at the same time, you're unlikely to do one effectively or quickly. You will be much more efficient and productive in developing your ability to focus on the task ahead and your approach.