Simple Manifesto #47 – Single-task
This is part of our series on Leo Babauta’s Simple Living Manifesto. We invite you to join us on the journey.
The 47th idea in the manifesto is:
Single-task. Multi-tasking is more complicated, more stressful, and generally less productive. Instead, do one task at a time.
Waterfall at the Dall Arboretum | Photo by Jonathan Blundell
I’ve always thought I was great at multi-tasking. Text messaging, conversations in person, working on various tasks, etc. etc.
I thought I could do it all at once.
In reality, I think I’m finding out I have trouble walking and carrying on a conversation at the same time.
Some interesting info on multi-tasking:
Dr. David Meyer, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, claims that multitasking can actually slow you down (Seven, 2004). He says that through research he has discovered that the more complex activities a person takes on, the more time it actually takes in the long run. His point is in agreement with Arden’s (2002) written views. Again, when you take on multiple tasks, you cannot perform them all at an optimum level. Meyer is also in agreement with Arden that when you are multitasking too much, you can experience short-term memory problems or difficulty concentrating.
Why risk under-performing on anything just to try and get things done quicker.
Is any e-mail, text message or phone call really that important?
- Turn the gadgets off — especially when you’re driving.
- Turn your e-mail off.
- Turn Twitter and Facebook off.
- Let calls go to voice-mail.
All of these incoming messages can wait. Don’t let them take you off task. Stay focused on what’s at hand.
A few other things I’ve found to help:
- Use a bookmark service to save web pages you want to read later. When you do stop to check your e-mail, Twitter or favorite social network you may be bombarded with links to read and visit — don’t stop clearing your inbox to look at them. Save the bookmark to delicious or a bookmark folder in your browser for you to return to when you have plenty of downtime.
- Keep a notepad handy to jot down for any inspirations and ideas that may pop up during your other tasks.
- Use a simple recorder (I use the one on my Blackberry) to record notes and ideas while driving, or out walking the dog.
Do one thing — and do it well.
Do you struggle with single-tasking? Have you found other solutions that have helped?
Share your suggestions with the rest of us.
UPDATE: KERA’s Think with Krys Boyd had a great interview on this topic as well.
Building a Good Life in the Digital Age
[2010-07-15 12:00:00] Are ubiquitous technology and constant connectedness stressing you out? We’ll talk this hour with journalist William Powers who finds antidotes to the screen within the work of a few literary and philosophical greats in his new book “Hamlet’s BlackBerry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age” (Harper, 2010).
KERA Think – Building a Good Life in the Digital Age
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