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| Multitask Definition Mug |
Multitask?
Now that is one seriously evil nine letter word! Not as bad as 'abysmally' but still...
Perhaps though, it is a necessary evil and in my case a daily sin committed in the name of being all things to all people.
Coffee made while waking up (yes, it is a valid example!), ironing done while yelling at sleepy children (ditto), teeth cleaned in tandem with pulling on uncooperative jeans and shoes with their laces still tied.
All legitimate examples of multitasking endured in the name of just getting through the day.
Now don't stress, I'm not here to suggest a blanket ban on all the tandem brushing/dressing/caffeinating activities that are helping us survive in our hella crazy, over committed lives.
I am however, worried about the effect of 'real' (aka seriously complicated) multitasking on my life and, if I'm honest, my sanity. Surely all this relentless focus splitting is hard on the mind?
If I am going to drain my brain bare, shouldn't I have something to show for it, other than a headache and a sense that something important has definitely been forgotten?
If I am going to drain my brain bare, shouldn't I have something to show for it, other than a headache and a sense that something important has definitely been forgotten?
Is, I ask, the Holy Grail then the idea of 'Single tasking'? A blissful 'one thing at a time' approach? Would my days, if spent in this manner, pass in a flow of focused activity and end in a glow of achievement?
Being the proactive type, I googled it, Single Tasking, and surprise surprise I found me a book!
It was even called 'Singletasking' - Get more done one thing at a time which I took as a sign, the universe had spoken. I needed to read this book.
Devora Zack, the author of this little tome, is well credentialed to examine the benefits of singletasking, being a business leadership consultant with her company, 'Only Connect Consulting'.
Even more importantly, she is a 'reformed' multitasker (though as she helpfully points out in her book, multi tasking itself is a myth) and a little bit like a reformed smoker, she is fervent about the benefits of quitting...... and the perils of not.
The pro's of taking it 'One Thing at a Time' include:
- Profoundly higher quality outputs.
- Reduced anxiety, &
- Vastly increased productivity.
It was however, one particularly sinister peril of riding the multitask roller coaster that found me jumping to attention:
Multi tasking, or more accurately focus switching, will eventually cause...
YOUR BRAIN TO SHRINK!
EEEEK. My take on that, multi tasking, is in fact, a poison. A poison that will physically damage your body.
Ok, I'm scared, but is there any hope for us who have well and truly bought into the 'do it all' culture? Zack is ever confident that we can indeed free ourselves from the 'Multi Tasking Monster' through a process of planning and removing from our day the sirens that lure us into multi tasking's lair.
According to Zack, unwinding ourselves from the grip of our 'smart tech' is a good first step. Turning off alert sounds on our computers and devices, reading from a book or Kindle so our focus is not broken by a News.com alert, not (and this is a massive peeve of mine) bringing your phone to the dinner table.
This is only one of many strategies Zack champions throughout out this very practical book. She delivers on a promise made early in the piece to not 'frustrate' the reader with advice that is out of touch with normal lives (a bit like the 'save $1000.00 a month' blog posts that assume no expenses and maximum income).
Her advice is versatile, down to earth and easily integrate-able into the lives of any person who has wondered enough about this topic to pick up her book (yes I'm looking in the mirror here).
If you have stopped to read a message, check the news, spit out the toothpaste, revive a fainted Pokemon or even if you are reading this while you are supposed to be doing something else (well done you!) this might just be the book for you!
Think of your poor shrinking brain!;)
As Always, Happy Reading
xoxo
LMK
To Purchase the book, and support the reading endeavours of Little
Miss Kindle see below:
Amazon.US
Amazon.UK
Amazon .CA
Ok, I'm scared, but is there any hope for us who have well and truly bought into the 'do it all' culture? Zack is ever confident that we can indeed free ourselves from the 'Multi Tasking Monster' through a process of planning and removing from our day the sirens that lure us into multi tasking's lair.
According to Zack, unwinding ourselves from the grip of our 'smart tech' is a good first step. Turning off alert sounds on our computers and devices, reading from a book or Kindle so our focus is not broken by a News.com alert, not (and this is a massive peeve of mine) bringing your phone to the dinner table.
This is only one of many strategies Zack champions throughout out this very practical book. She delivers on a promise made early in the piece to not 'frustrate' the reader with advice that is out of touch with normal lives (a bit like the 'save $1000.00 a month' blog posts that assume no expenses and maximum income).
Her advice is versatile, down to earth and easily integrate-able into the lives of any person who has wondered enough about this topic to pick up her book (yes I'm looking in the mirror here).
If you have stopped to read a message, check the news, spit out the toothpaste, revive a fainted Pokemon or even if you are reading this while you are supposed to be doing something else (well done you!) this might just be the book for you!
Think of your poor shrinking brain!;)
As Always, Happy Reading
xoxo
LMK
To Purchase the book, and support the reading endeavours of Little
Miss Kindle see below:
Amazon.US
Amazon.UK
Amazon .CA
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