In this week’s episode we’re unpacking the persistent myth of multitasking, with the sixth letter of the PROCESS acronym, S: Stop Switchtasking.
What You’ll Hear:
- We know how to get things done, mastering the art of doing #allthethings, but this nasty habit has us constantly distracted and is having a profoundly negative effect on just about every aspect of our lives, from our marriages to our businesses.
- Here’s the deal: multitasking isn’t actually a thing. It’s a persistent myth, and understanding what’s actually happening, and how to change it, can be quite liberating.
- “Multi-tasking is great in the kitchen when you are trying to time the chicken to be ready at the same time as the potatoes. But do not assume it is a great way to manage a workday” Joanne Tombrakos
- This term was first used in 1965 by IBM to describe their new computer’s ability to run several programs concurrently. What we’ve coined multitasking is more accurately described as switchtasking.
- With distractions (ahem, smart phones) ever before us, we’ve become a society who simply cannot focus on one thing for any length of time. We have become like barracudas, suffering from ‘shiny object syndrome’.
- Our chronic distraction is not only due to a lack of discipline and focus, but I believe also due to a stealthy addiction to approval. When we’re feeling low, overwhelmed or stressed, it’s easy to go in search of another “hit” on social media.
- “We have to get back to the beauty of just being alive in this present moment” Mary McDonnell
- Call it creative avoidance or chronic distraction, juggling too many things at once has a tremendous effect on work productivity and our ability to be fully engaged and present with our families.
- Time-blocking my work week – and disciplining myself to remove all possible distractions, using a timer when necessary – has made all the difference in allowing me to focus and stay engaged on a single project, in a specific arena, at one time (or on one day).
- If our daily habits create our weekly realities, which ultimately make up our life, it’s not hard to see how our willingness to pare back and focus on fruitfulness (rather than busyness) will guide our journey to purpose.
Quick Links from Episode 24:
- Social Media Obsession article
- The ONE Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
- Essentialism by Greg KcKeown
- The 5 Love Languages Assessment
- Efficiency costs of switching article
- Social Interruption & Loss of Productivity article
- My Coaching & Consulting : Simply Bloom Coaching
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Food for Thought:
- When are you most tempted to ‘multitask’? What do you believe drives the temptation in this area? Insecurity, creative avoidance, boredom, habit, etc?
- What would this period of your day look like if you chose to focus on only one thing at a time? Now map that out!
Quote + Free Print:
“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus” Alexander Graham Bell
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Tune in next Monday for another episode of The Penduka Podcast, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!
