I've decided it's time to tackle the problem I have of multi-tasking. It's on my list of goals, and I'm a huge multi-tasker, so I need to nip it in the bud right away!
I've read article after article about it and it seems that no matter what anyone thinks (including myself), multi-tasking doesn't work and it lessons your ability to get things done correctly by 40%. That's a lot. As I read other people's comments about how when multi-tasking they send emails and forget to attach the attachments, get distracted by phone calls and incoming emails, spend longer than necessary in meetings because they and others spend more time texting, checking emails, etc... than actually participating in their meeting and generally work their butts off all day only to feel like they didn't get anything done. I had my a-ha moment. "Welcome to my world."
Another good point is favor of not multi-tasking is that you really aren't multi-tasking, you're task-switching. And that's true. For as much as we want to think we're doing two things (or more) at once, we're really just switching back and forth and not giving either task our full attention. This is most noticeable when it comes to your cell phone. If someone is talking to you while you're reading a text, or playing a game, or checking Facebook, do you really hear everything they say? How about when someone is driving and looking at their cell phone? Are they really paying attention to their driving? Yeah, not so much.
OK, onto my experiment. I've decided to stop multi-tasking for one week. Just one week where everything I do will get my undivided attention. I've already gone into my Outlook email and turned off the email notifications, so that they don't distract me. I will let you know how it goes.
If anyone reading this faces the same multi-tasking issues that I do, I challenge you to try a week free of multi-tasking.
How I feel today:
I've read article after article about it and it seems that no matter what anyone thinks (including myself), multi-tasking doesn't work and it lessons your ability to get things done correctly by 40%. That's a lot. As I read other people's comments about how when multi-tasking they send emails and forget to attach the attachments, get distracted by phone calls and incoming emails, spend longer than necessary in meetings because they and others spend more time texting, checking emails, etc... than actually participating in their meeting and generally work their butts off all day only to feel like they didn't get anything done. I had my a-ha moment. "Welcome to my world."
Another good point is favor of not multi-tasking is that you really aren't multi-tasking, you're task-switching. And that's true. For as much as we want to think we're doing two things (or more) at once, we're really just switching back and forth and not giving either task our full attention. This is most noticeable when it comes to your cell phone. If someone is talking to you while you're reading a text, or playing a game, or checking Facebook, do you really hear everything they say? How about when someone is driving and looking at their cell phone? Are they really paying attention to their driving? Yeah, not so much.
OK, onto my experiment. I've decided to stop multi-tasking for one week. Just one week where everything I do will get my undivided attention. I've already gone into my Outlook email and turned off the email notifications, so that they don't distract me. I will let you know how it goes.
If anyone reading this faces the same multi-tasking issues that I do, I challenge you to try a week free of multi-tasking.
How I feel today:
Hoping not to feel this way next week!
Wish me luck!
MW
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