In 2016, the mother of all media multitasking studies was released.
A collection of data from almost 50 studies was researched and aggregated in order to discover the effects of multitasking. The results?
Multitasking sucks and is killing your productivity.
Multitasking is often seen as a sign of productivity. This is a problem. In truth, multitasking makes you less productive and can even lead to poorer decision-making. It causes exhaustion faster than focusing on a single task for long periods of time and even produces shorter attention spans over the long term.
Unfortunately, it is almost unavoidable in today’s digital world. There are however a few things to do in order to mitigate the multitasking side-effects.
Lump similar tasks together
The study shows that it takes your brain a tremendous amount of effort to switch gears. It works like a car that is constantly stopping to change direction. This slowing down, switching tasks, then speeding back up, means that you spend far more time getting up to speed than you do just cruising.
This can be remedied by lumping similar tasks into different times of the day. Personally, I do all my intense work in the morning (data analysis, web development, and operations). After lunch, I switch to more busy work as I fall into my post-lunch afternoon slump. I finish my day with an evening of creative work (writing, design, problem-solving).
This pattern has helped me to minimize the amount of time wasted on task-switching.
Create boundaries
This one is especially important for those of us with a lot of side hustles. If you are trying to work on two businesses at the same time, it’s going to be tough to give either the attention it deserves.
In order to combat this, set specific times to shut down all notifications except those directly pertaining to the task at hand.
This will help to create an environment in which you are not constantly interrupted and can focus on a single task for extended periods of time.
Take breaks on purpose
Tons of tiny accidental breaks, act as speed bumps for productivity. They force us to slow down without us being in control.
In order to combat this, take breaks on purpose. Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on a task until the timer goes off. Then take a five-minute break. This will help you stay focused while also giving your brain a much-needed break.
Breaks are crucial for maintaining productivity. If you attempt to work for hours on end without taking a break, your brain is going to start rebelling and you will sacrifice the second half of your day.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Set specific times for distraction heavy tasks
Another way to combat multitasking is to set specific times for things checking your email and browsing social media. Checking these things constantly throughout the day will only serve to break your concentration.
Instead, save these activities for specific times of the day when you know that you will have less work to focus on.
This way, you can be more productive during your core hours and still enjoy some distractions without them taking over.
The main point here is the importance of remaining in control. You decide when and what to do, not your phone or your email. All too often, we let our environment tell us what to do next. This creates chaos as our brains become servants to whatever is shiniest.
Taking back control can be tough, but will pay dividends if achieved.
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In short, multitasking is bad for productivity.
We are constantly bombarded with notifications and new tasks that all compete for our most valuable asset, our time. Taking back control of our time is terribly difficult, but possible.
Create systems that allow you to batch similar tasks together so that you can minimize the number of times you have to change mental gears.
Set specific times to work on distraction-heavy tasks in order to avoid them taking over your day.
Most importantly, remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself and you will be much more productive in the long run.
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