Become a Mono-Tasker

September 1, 2008

Become a Mono-Tasker

The human brain has so many amazing abilities. Unfortunately, doing two things at once isn't one of them. It cuts down on the amount of time we can effectively concentrate on one thing. We listen to music while working out, or text while walking the street. Being present in everything you do will help eliminate mistakes and keep you focused on the job at hand. We'll show you that doing two things at once doesn't always lead to high productivity. In fact, it usually hurts productivity and the quality of your work.

Faulty-Tasking

When you constantly are switching from one activity to another, it becomes more difficult to return your concentration to the previous activity. It's mental channel surfing. It takes 15 minutes for your brain to get back to where it was in thought after switching abruptly. Being present mentally, physically, and spiritually takes work, but it's also rewarding. And besides, dabbling in a myriad of activities and performing none of them particularly well can feel shallow and fruitless.

Focus

Here are some good rules to live by:

Don't check your email every five minutes. Check it three times a day.
Listening to music with words will slow you down.
Decide how long each task should take and then try to complete it in that time frame.
Get rid of all instant messaging programs. They are the worst attention-span killers out there.
Enjoy the task at hand. You can live better by enjoying what you're working on right now.

Why Make Life More Complicated?

This is the best site for mono-tasking: www.nowdothis.com. Every day, type in what needs to get done, and after each task is complete, click the "done" button. A pen and paper will work nicely, too. If you didn't finish this article in one sitting, we highly recommend you check out this site.

Add Better Tasks

Take the scenic route to work instead of fighting traffic and making phone calls. Meditate while your clothes are drying. Practice doing everything, whether it's boring or not, in a new and interesting way. Relearn the way you go about your day. Give it your full attention, and chances are, you'll finish more quickly and will be free to move on to more enjoyable things.

Topics: Organizational Skills, Stress Management, Mood/Attitude, Working Moms

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