Multitasking is something that most of us think about on a daily basis – be that:
a) Wishing we could multitask;
b) Trying to multitask; or
c) Actually multitasking.
But a quick Google will show you that there is not even a gram of consensus as to whether it is good thing, or even whether multitasking actually exists.
The latter problem, inevitably, is all just a matter of semantics. There is no mysterious skill that some people are born with and the rest of us only get to resent. What one person calls ‘multitasking’, another person calls ‘flipping back-and-forth between a number of things‘. The ability to flip successfully and ‘zone out’ the other things will vary from person-to-person, but that is all.
So what can we do to improve our task-juggling ability?
1) Only fight battles you think you can win
Sound daft? Let me give you an example. I can’t do anything whilst the TV is on – I can’t read, I can’t write, and I have a hard time remembering to breath. So I don’t ever include ‘catch-up with new series of House’ as a multiple task. Identifying those things which always steal your full attention from those that don’t enables you to streamline the work you do.
2) Keep the clock running
It is only worth multitasking if you are actually going to get more done in a period of time than you would do other wise. And how do you know whether you are succeeding? That’s right – set yourself targets. If you know it would take you 1 hr to do Task A, and 1 hr to do Task B, you should be aiming to get both done in 1.5 hrs – check your progress as you go to help focus on the end game of getting things done in an efficient manner.
3) Eliminate hidden multi-tasking
Most of us are multitasking sub-consciously all the time – we have the radio on in the background, we keep daydreaming of next weeks vacation, or we are trying to eat a bowl of cereal whilst typing. There is a limit to how much you can spread your attention and still remain productive – if you are actively trying to multitask then remove as many of these ‘hidden tasks’ as possible.
4) Manage your attention span
I have always found that the more I am trying to get done at once, then the more I need shorter bursts of activity. Two minutes of distraction every five minutes of concentration, and I am able to keep the intensity going for longer.
5) Know your limit
How many things can you actually flick between at any one time before you begin to loose your ability to focus and do the best job you can? I know I can have 4, 5 maybe 6 e-mails being written at the same time, whereas I can only really focus on one Excel model. By understanding these limits you reduce the risk of getting to the end of a 2 hour session and realise all you have managed to achieve is annihilation of a large number of projects.
6) Do you really want to be multitasking?
Finally, one thing to always remember is that whilst you are trying to do two things at once, you are unlikely to be getting the total enjoyment you can get from throwing yourself into a task entirely. Life is not always about how much you can achieve in the time given, but about how much you get out of that time.
