I have been a multi-tasker since back in my College days, working at Carl’s Jr. I still remember that moment when my assistant manager told me to fill drinks for waiting cars while taking the order on the drive phone of the current car. Something clicked in my brain – I could do more than one thing at a time! – and I never looked back. In fact it drives me crazy when I go into a fast food restaurant, or a store, and the person behind the counter doesn’t multi-task.  Like most customers, I want faster service please now!  But I have learned to think differently about multi-tasking when I moved into the Office world.

If you have a tough assignment – one that is highly detail oriented and requires concentration – the distractions of multi-tasking can greatly add on to the time it takes you to accomplish the task.  I used to do a set of quarterly reports at my last job.  I inherited the task from my Boss – it usually took him over two weeks to complete the reports each quarter.  When I started, I managed to get it down to 10 days.  I noticed part of the problem was the interruptions and distractions of a normal day.  So – I started putting a “Do Not Disturb” sign up on my door (with a lovely picture of Godzilla) to keep people away during report time.  This worked to some extent, and cut the report time down to about 6-7 days.  Finally, one quarter, I got the bright idea to attempt to do this working from home.  This resulted in the reporting getting done in 2-3 days. No email, no calls, no people stopping by with questions- just focusing on the task at hand.

Since I managed to tame my unruly inbox and now work to keep it at zero, I have a better understanding of the single-tasking concept.  Before I got email under control, it was a great distraction, time waster, and tool to help me procrastinate from doing other work. Now, even when I want to procrastinate, it is harder, because that toy has been taken away from me.  I am forced to focus on the projects I need to do (even if it is something boring or something I don’t feel particularly motivated to do). Taking away the multi-tasking distraction, zeroing in on the one thing, has made me much more efficient in getting things done.

Of course – some people don’t have a choice to Not multi-task.  I am speaking of Moms, of course.  I think multi-tasking is a core foundation in the essence of motherhood.  Households would grind to a halt if it weren’t for Moms who could cook dinner, help with the homework, plan next week’s meals, discipline the trouble-maker and feed the cat all at the same time. It does make me wonder about the differences of physical multi-tasking vs. mental multi-tasking.  Maybe we are OK doing multiple tasks that require action– but we get overtaxed when we try to do several tasks that require mental focus and deep concentration.

The next time you are feeling overwhelmed at work – think about implementing some single-tasking in your life.  This might mean just answering email for an hour (don’t answer that phone if it rings!), then closing out email to work on a project that requires writing, or reading an important document without other distractions. It might change your point of view.

I finally had to close all my other windows so that I could concentrate on one thing at a time.  Today will be like that.  Too many shiny things vying for my attention.  That makes today a Fry-Day. (Ron not only gets the reference but is cringing in recognition.)

Great waddle this morning.  It was my longest run yet – which means I had to actively focus on here and now instead of anticipating when it will be over.  At least living for 3 minutes from now is better than living in fear of tomorrow.  I think.

Confession – I walked away from a draft of this post to go put on mascara.  I wasn’t planning on putting on mascara.  I just discovered after one eye that that’s what I was doing.

Time to read some Echart Tolle.  He’ll lambast me into living in the moment.  Bless his furry heart.

How do you stay focused on the task at hand?

Significantly,

Susan Scot Fry

Update… It helped that I wrote down the vaguest list in the world.  I swear, it was like “AM, do misc stuff.  PM, edit and email all the bios out.”  And, that’s exactly what I did.

I think the point is to have in front of me a written note of the big project for the day.  That way, when I become distracted and am looking around frantically, the note will call me back.

In today’s society, business professionals tend to multi-task. We as a society need to convert back to single-tasking humans.  As we continue to multi-task, we are hindered from seeing results.  We may feel we are making progress while we are in the “zone” of our professional work environment.  Yet, at the end of the day, we are left feeling like we didn’t get much of anything accomplished.

Single tasking will:

·         Increase productivity

·         Create immediate results

·         Lower stress level

·         Enhance working environment

·         Develop positive, pro-active attitude

·         Give a sense of accomplishment

Ok, so now we know we need to single task, but how and where do we start?

Here are four essential steps to single tasking:

1.       Make a list of all your tasks.

2.       Prioritize your tasks in order of importance.

3.       Get to work! Start with your first to-do and work until this ONE task is complete.

4.       Check off your completed task and then move to the next.

I encourage you to try the steps above, the results speak for themselves!

Whenever I’m behind a car that is driving dangerously below the speed limit on the freeway, it’s always been an oblivious driver on a cell phone. How annoying is watching a person answer email during an important presentation? I just read an article that claimed people actually answered incoming text during sex.

If I’m really interested in a football game, you can bet that I’ll shut down my laptop. If I’m having a serious conversation with my wife, I’m not going to concurrently check my social networking sites on my iPhone . We know intuitively that to really focus, we need to be single-tasking. That’s when we are really productive, producing work with quality and depth.

I actually designate “Single-Task Days” for myself. I list out what I want to accomplish for that day, then prioritize each task. If two tasks are about equal in importance, I give higher priority to the task that I’m the LEAST excited to do. My reasoning is that I will always find ways to do tasks that I enjoy.

During these days, I really try not to let other things distract me from my list. These are some of my favorite days, when I let myself really focus on singular tasks. It’s during these days that I sometimes feel myself in a zone, when my tasks seem so much clearer and answers come easier. Such days can result in a great sense of accomplishment and progress — that is, until you are back to multi-tasking the next day.

Now, the challenge rests in changing my habits, because I am firmly set in ‘multi-mode’.  I need to be able to consciously swtich that on and off when I need it, rather than defaulting to that setting.

I’ve decided that there are definitely times when multi-tasking is useful and productive. Filling ‘waiting’ gaps, taking advantage of an opportunity when it pops up, and when doing one task mindlessly (I love to tidy up whilst on the phone; I finish a conversation and my room is all spick’n'span, or at least better than when I started!), and ironing in front of the TV. So in those cases I can go with my instinct and multi-task when it suits.

However, there are times when I certainly should NOT multi-task. Like when on a business call to a client, when processing my inbox, writing an article, researching, replying to emails, filing (although I resist this because filing my own paperwork is SO BORING but I know it’s faster to just do it), having a conversation with a person – any person, but especially my kids and my mother (because she can tell, even on the phone!), doing my hair & makeup, and housework. I know people thing housework is mindless and you can multi-task easily, but I have tested it out and you get more done in less time (and who doesn’t want to get housework out of the way quickly?)  if you focus on one job right through until a logical completion point.

So my challenge now is to change my default setting to be set to ‘single task’ and then have the multi-task module ‘kick in’ when the need arises!!

Today, whilst I ran the tap for the dishes, unpacked the dishwasher and got a drink for a 6 year-old, my friend jokingly asked “So, how’s the single-tasking going?”.  Hmm…..

So my conclusions thus far are that there are kinds of tasks lend themselves to multi-tasking, kinds we’re tempted to multi-task but shouldn’t (this is the most important group of tasks!), and those tasks that we should certainly always single-task on.  Of course, there are grey areas and not everyone’s   lists will be the same, but I’m forming some framework in my mind of my own tasks and projects.

I need to work on my natural propensity to multi-task, which leaves me less effective when doing tasks that I would be much better off single-tasking but don’t always have the discipline to (such as housework, work on the PC, engaging with my children, getting myself ready in the mornings).

Sadly, that’s just about as successful as I’ve gotten!!!!

Consequently, I have gotten less done. I’m aware that’s hard to quantify but I feel as though I have achieved a lot less.  That’s rather telling.

Now, time for me to give myself a bit of a boot up the backside and get back on this wagon for a successful Day 6!!!!

I was so productive I rewarded myself with no work in the evening. I watched some TV and resolved NOT to channel-surf during the ads. I wasn’t too bad at that, either

Today was not so great – I regressed in many ways. I ate lunch while I watched TV and jumped from doing the dishes to checking emails and back again a few times, among other indiscretions. I did drive without music, however. I found that rather peaceful sometimes, and annoying other times. I found that it deprived me of one of my joys – singing at the top of my voice along with the music. I tried singing without music. It wasn’t nearly as much fun! I enjoy singing when I’m in a bouyant mood so if I were tired or crabby I was more than happy to drive in silence.

But today wasn’t a total loss – I discovered that sometimes the only chance you get to do something that fills you up is when you grasp the opportunity between tasks or whilst doing another task at the same time (like my singing – I never make time to just sing so it’s a great opportunity to get some practice in between lessons).

A report published by the American Psychological Association showed that not only can we not multi-task, we also take longer to do things, and hamper our intelligence and memory by attempting to do so.

Multi-tasking is a way of life for us. I have lived my life as a serial multi-tasking scatterbrain. I wonder what life is like on the other side. I wonder if I would have a better memory if I actually focused fully on what I was doing.

I have been inspired by a Vogue article by Cleo Glyde to try single-tasking for a while. I’m going to see if I can do it and what effect it will have on my life. And I’m going to blog about it so you can laugh at me whilst I struggle with it!

By single task, I mean that I’m going to focus on one task only at a time. That means no more ironing whilst I watch TV (and vice versa – how boring!), no more tweeting whilst I work, no more texting at the traffic lights (I know, I know – but I DID say I was a serial multi-tasker, didn’t I?). No more turning the PC on, then switching the kettle on, then packing my handbag, then back to the PC to log in, then to the boiled kettle to make the drink, then finish packing my bag. I am thinking I’m going to be bored a lot. I hate waiting. However, I will do it!

I have to add a little caveat, however. I have two young children, so I will need to chat to them whilst I drive the car, and put down what I’m doing when they spill a whole tub of yogurt on the floor or start to whack each other. But on the whole I’m going to focus on one task at a time; wholly and fully.

I’m pretty sure that I’m going to fail spectacularly at this to begin with, but I’m going to persist because we only see the benefits of things like this when they become a lifestyle change. I’m interested to see how my life will change.

I’m terrified and excited all at the same time. I wonder how I’ll go? What do you think?

Day 1 began with me trying to make a plan of how I would avoid multitasking. Deciding NOT to multitask was the first step, how do go about doing it is step two.

Make a TO-DO List
Set one up for each situation. One for home,office,to call,to read etc.

Have one place where you keep them all
If your to-do list is all around places trying to go about getting stuff on it done could be quite a task. Also single-tasking involves being organized to get things done. Choose a right tool which works for you. I use Doris app when I on my online, and a paper based notebook when I am off-line

I plan to synchronize my paper notebook to Doris at the end of the each day.

Split bigger task into smaller sub tasks
Some tasks on your list might be a bigger picture based task.For e.g buying a house. Split this task into a smaller sub task. Buying a house could be sub divided into “Look for a location”, “Organise for money”, “Contact a real estate agent” etc. Try and get as much information as possible about your bigger picture task under its sub tasks list.

Task of the day
For each day, before you go to bed your previous day, assign one task from your to-do list as the task of the day. Now the next morning when you wake up, make sure you complete this task before moving to other tasks. This way your to do list gets shorter each day.

Manage Distraction Well
If while working on a task, some other things come in your way, take a note of it and put it in a place you can get back to after you complete the task at hand.

Enjoy each task in your list and take breaks often.

Dengan mengerjakan model single tasking, pikiran kita akan lebih fokus dan hasil akan maksimal. Kan kalau dikerjakan satu persatu selesainya lebih lama? Tergantung. Kalau kita mengerjakannya secara sungguh – sungguh insya allah lama pengerjaan tidak jauh beda.

Tapi, itu semua kembali kepada kepribadian seseorang apakah ia lebih suka single tasking atau multitasking?

In today’s society, business professionals tend to multi-task. We as a society need to convert back to single-tasking humans.  As we continue to multi-task, we are hindered from seeing results.  We may feel we are making progress while we are in the “zone” of our professional work environment.  Yet, at the end of the day, we are left feeling like we didn’t get much of anything accomplished.

Single tasking will:

·         Increase productivity

·         Create immediate results

·         Lower stress level

·         Enhance working environment

·         Develop positive, pro-active attitude

·         Give a sense of accomplishment

Ok, so now we know we need to single task, but how and where do we start?

Here are four essential steps to single tasking:

1.       Make a list of all your tasks.

2.       Prioritize your tasks in order of importance.

3.       Get to work! Start with your first to-do and work until this ONE task is complete.

4.       Check off your completed task and then move to the next.

I encourage you to try the steps above, the results speak for themselves!

To Your Success,

Vanessa Lindsay

Real Estate Professional Assistant (REPA)

http://www.NessLindsay.com

Days like today are Tom Waits days, when I’m reminded of the beauty that can only be found in the rough places, and the hope that is always present even in the darkness. So, it is in honor of this Tom Waits kind of day that I offer you the suggestion of taking a few minutes to single task, to stop surfing the internet, listening to music, watching tv, and getting work done all at once. Try just staring out a window, or writing a poem in silence, or taking a walk without your ipod. Or, as I like to do, sit and listen to a song, not as a distraction or accompaniment to whatever else you are doing, but with your eyes closed, concentrating only on the song and the thoughts and feelings that come along with it.

“You Can Never Hold Back Spring” was my weapon of choice:

1. Quality decreases.The more things you attempt to do at the same time, the same amount of brain processing power is only going to be divided among more tasks. Each task gets less attention and you are probably going to end up doing a lousy job at it.
2. Quantity of work accomplished decreases. Instead of getting more done, you are probably going to get less done in a longer period of time because you can’t focus and get into ‘the flow’. You are also probably going to make more mistake (refer to 1) and then end up spending more time correcting it. At the end of it, you get less work done.
3. You will get more stressed. You will get immersed in one activity, only to remember that there’s another thing that you are doing. Then you will jump back to the other task and then the cycle repeats again and again as you toggle among the various tasks that you are doing. At the end of it, you end up getting frustrated at the whole process. And as mentioned in 1, there’s a high chance you are going to make mistakes and that only adds to your stress level.

Simply put, Kyoshi thinks that you should stop going insane trying to do so many things at once and just do one thing at a time. And not only that, with single-tasking, you set up the conditions for yourself to do one hell of a kick-ass good job!

So, do YOU multi-task? Why do you do it? Do share it with others in the comments.

get ready.

CMD+V

11-05-06 | 12:44 am

back. and single-tasking!

i’ve been away for awhile and even went so far as to cancel my site… but i am back with an anonymous vengeance!
i really just wanted a place to spit my thoughts onto the worldwideweb of information.

and with that… my first entry goes a little something like this:

i think that it is in my best interest to give up on intentional multitasking forever. i am going to take a stand and be the first person to be a self proclaimed single tasker.

chew on that, JACK!

Several blocks and remedies really resonated with me: too much stuff on the brain, multi-tasking and unfocused attention, overwhelm, perfectionism.

I decided to focus this week on the “too much stuff on the brain” and “multi-task and unfocused attention.”  This seems to be a big issue for me, especially when returning from a vacation.  You’re probably familiar with the feeling.  You come home rested and relaxed from vacation only to face all the stuff that you missed while away and now need to get up to speed on.

No wonder people say they need a vacation from their vacation.

One remedy to this feeling of overwhelm is what Christine calls a “brain drain list.”  That is, you write down all the stuff that is bouncing around in your head.  By writing it down you clear it from your brain which may bring a sense of relief.  At least all that stuff isn’t bouncing around in your head, causing stress and worry and making you wonder how in the world you’ll get it all done.

Now, how do you tackle all that stuff you’ve just drained from your brain?

You can create a to-do list.  You can prioritize your to-do list.  You can multi-task.

Or you can choose 1-3 items to accomplish and single-task.  That is the approach I’m taking.

I’ve made to-do lists and inevitably I put too many items on the list and never complete half of them during my day.  That doesn’t lend itself to a sense of accomplishment.

I’ve prioritized my to-do lists and that provided some success.  However, some items always remained and, over time, I again lost that sense of accomplishment.

On Sunday night I write down all the stuff that I have to deal with during the coming week.  From that list, I decide which three items I need to accomplish each day.  I chose three items per day beginning with Monday.  On Monday night, I chose three items for Tuesday, and so forth.

And the question I ask throughout all of this is if I do nothing else that day, which three items can I tackle and feel happy that I accomplished them.

How is this different from multi-tasking?  A sense of accomplishment.

When we multi-task, we often move through a series of items (do a little something here, do a little something there) yet we never fully accomplish any of the items because we don’t focus our attention on them.

With a single-task approach, you determine what you can accomplish and set aside or designate a time frame in which to accomplish it.  Writing this blog entry was on my list for Monday.  I set aside one hour in the evening to write it.  If I know I only have 60 minutes to get a task done, I’m going to devote my full attention to it.  And when that hour is done, I know the task is complete and then I move on to the next item.

I’ve even found that by limiting myself to 3 items I may actually accomplish more.  I tick those three items off my list and may take on another small task.  Or, maybe I reward myself with some quiet time to read or take a walk.

Granted, this approach may not work for everyone.  If you try it, it may feel odd at first.  We expect our days to be busy-busy, running in circles, doing this or doing that, and then collapsing at the end of the day wondering where the time went and asking ourselves what exactly did we get done.

Yet when you give your attention to one task at a time, you achieve so much more.  You complete the task and you give yourself a sense of accomplishment.

And what about those large tasks, like clearing your closet or the garage or those 20 bottle stoppers someone ordered?  Break it down into small chunks of time over the week.  And at the end of the week check it off your list.  Done!

Do I allow for “bleed” time?  Of course.  If I’m on a roll with lots of momentum while working on a task, I’ll keep working on it.  There is no tape that will self-destruct or bells that ring with black holes sucking away whatever it was I was working on.

With this approach, you gain control over what you need to get done.  You decide what you can accomplish when and of those items which ones will make you happy to complete them.