Do you ever catch yourself “multitasking”?
Do you find yourself believing that you can do two things simultaneously? That you may even be good at it?
Well, there is a multitasking myth. Research in neuroscience shows that your brain does not really do tasks simultaneously, as you may have thought.
Your brain is simply switching tasks really quickly – and this is a lot of work on your brain.
Doing one thing at a time is an important strategy for reducing feelings of overwhelm and improving productivity.
Yes, your productivity will improve when you focus on one task at a time.
So, the next time you believe you are multitasking while you are typing an email to a co-worker, at the same time you are listening into a Zoom call or podcast – there is actually a start/stop process going on in your brain.
And this stop/start process actually takes MORE TIME (even microseconds) rather than saving time. The research shows it is less efficient to work this way, mistakes are more likely and it uses more of your energy.
Ready to be more productive, efficient and accurate? Then follow these simple steps:
Focus on one task at a time
Set a time limit in which to complete it
Move on to the next thing
It’s that easy!
Cheri Timmons is a Greensboro Downtown Parks program partner. The work she does with us is critical to providing FREE wellness programming to our park community. As we make our way through these unprecedented times, consider how you might support local Greensboro non-profits like us, as well as local businesses, artists, entrepreneurs like Cheri, makers, and more. We'll continue to bring you free programming through our digital platforms and look forward to having you join us and Cheri back in the parks soon!