This is the first of what will probably be many posts on the subject of multitasking. It must be stopped. I’ve read numerous books about improving performance, particularly job performance, and eliminating multitasking is the single best idea I’ve heard so far.
Here’s a humorous and helpful article from A.J. Jacobs and his experiment called Operation Focus.
Hence, I’ve decided to begin a little project I call Operation Focus. I pledge to go cold turkey from multitasking for a month in a quest to regain my brain and sanity. I’ll unitask―that is, perform one activity at a time. And just as important, I’ll stick with each thing for more than my average 30 seconds. I’ll be the most focused man in the world.
It’s worth a read.
Email is the perfect example. How many times a day do you check it? When you get bored or stuck on something, do you check it just to give yourself something else to do? Where does that lead you? I suspect you often end up wasting time on something completely unrelated to the task at hand.
The goal with work is not to be busy. The goal is to get things done. There’s a huge different.
As I said, we’ll be addressing this again, but try to work on tasks or projects in 90 minute spurts. Sit and your desk and focus on that task or project, and don’t do things like check your email or have the TV on in the background. You’ll be amazed at how much you accomplish.
