How effectively do you manage your time? People tend to pride themselves as fantastic multi-taskers. Multi-tasking is not putting on the coffee pot and then going back to the computer well your coffee brews, multi-tasking is being able to two important items at the same time, like talk on the phone while you type an email for example. But is this really multi-tasking? Dave Crenshaw calls this ’switch tasking’.
It is neurologically impossible to do two items of grave importance at the same time. Your mind is constantly switching back and forth between the two. Next time you are on the phone with someone who obviously preoccupied with something else look out for the signs that gave it away. Chances are, when you are trying to do two things at once, and one of them involves a person, that person CAN ALWAYS tell that you are not giving them adequate attention. It is incredibly dangerous and disrespectful to multi-task with people!
Is it ok to multi task (switch task) without people? Sure, if you want to waste your time. You will be so much more productive setting goals, creating a task list and controlling your own day than trying to do so many different things at once. Once you have created a task, for example checking your email, then do so in the allocated time slot. It’s so tempting to refresh your email every five minutes, or when you see the notification come in to go straight to your email and read it then and there, but that is letting technology control you! Allocate time, on every hour, or every three hours, depending on your job and what works for, when you can go and check your email.
Creating a focused task list will increase your productivity. Don’t try to do more than one thing at once, the only person losing out is you. Learn how to structure your day and you will be surprised at the benefits!
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