Why what you know about multitasking is a lie…
I was watching Gilmore Girls at the weekend. Not an uncommon event (this is my fourth time watching the entire 7 seasons plus special). Aaaaanyway, I had started dinner, I had a very tired 3-year-old, I was trying to plan my content for the week and the teens were making demands. Not to mention that the housework needed doing! And I just found myself sat there, frazzled. And I realised that NONE of these things were actually getting any of my attention.
So what did I do?
I stopped. Put the Bolognese on to simmer and closed my notebook. I put the washing on and then just sat on the sofa with Gene who promptly fell asleep on me. Turns out all he wanted was a cwtch from his mum and a little snooze. The Teens were placated with a couple of texts (they are too lazy to walk ALL the way downstairs) and the content planning could wait.
This manic half-hour led me to thinking about the trap of multi-tasking and how easy it is to fall into.
Y’see I notice quite a lot of people touting their multitasking skills. In fact, it’s often using it as a selling point. But I don’t agree that it is a selling point. Actually, I would go so far as to say that it’s a negative.
I hate to burst your bubble, but…
multitasking actually detracts from efficiency and causes distraction. This leads to jobs half done, stress, shortage of headspace and ultimately a to-do list that never ends. And you didn’t start your business to feel disenchanted with your work. I’d wager that you probably started it with entirely the opposite intention.
Now I understand the appeal of multitasking. The term is celebrated, thought of as a super-talent, something to be worked towards and revered. But if you – and I know this might sound a bit backwards – if you just slow down and focus on one task at a time, give that task all of your attention, and actually finish it, you will find that getting through your to-do list is not only doable, it will take you less time than you thought.
Then you can take a little time to celebrate your victory with a nice, chilled cup of coffee and a HUGE triple chocolate chip cookie… or y’know, your drink and snack of choice!
And if you still find your to-do list isn’t getting done, or you’re spending time on the stuff that isn’t helping your business move forward, why not slide your way into my emails and see if I can help you.
