The Myth of Multitasking

Superpower or focus-sapper?

In my efforts to help my clients discover their own unique story - so they can claim and proclaim the story of their business, I’ve compiled a list of brain-tickling questions meant to reveal parts of a person’s authentic personality. One of them came to my mind today so I’m sharing my thoughts on the subject.

Today's probing question (designed to help you get a sense of your uniqueness for storytelling purposes) is:

How do you feel about multitasking?

My simple answer is that multitasking has its place. That being said, I have a definite opinion about the practice of multitasking…

The promise of multitasking

A decade or so ago when I started writing blog posts for a business website, multitasking was considered the holy grail of efficiency; the superpower that could - finally - enable mere mortals to do - and have - it all. Work/life balance, it was believed, was only a juggled, over-bloated, overscheduled mishmosh of tasks performed on autoplot away. Not only did we aspire to do more - but to do it all at once. The premise of “having it all” was that, if only we could find a way to get all the “stuff” done, we’d be left with ample free time to do the things we actually wanted to do - and that would miraculously balance our work-life and our life-life.

Alas, we were misinformed; it is a myth that multitasking increases productivity.

The sad truth about multitasking

The takeaway - gleaned from the benefit of the intervening years - is that multitasking for the sake of multitasking produces little headway while at the same time numbing one’s experience of doing any of the things you multitasked. In many cases, it’s more productive to delve deeply into a single project with 100% focus on it to the exclusion of all else. This results in less time wasted switching gears and refocusing attention; more time spent in flow.

A new perspective on multitasking

I’m not denying that knowledge can be passively “absorbed” while our minds are otherwise-focused, subconsciously or even unconsciously. Nor am I claiming that multitasking is inherently wrong or inefficient; simply that it’s not the cure for the “disease” of Not-having-it-all-itis.

Fortunately, over the years I’ve come to a more enlightened understanding of time management which includes multitasking (in healthy proportion) along with a big dose of single-tasking, its slower-paced, more deeply-present sister.

Classic multitasking (folding the laundry while watching TV) is fine; it takes nothing from one activity to pair it with the other. Consider this, however: Watching TV while eating sounds like a multitasking time-saver, yet attention given to the television takes attention away from the food (and a significant portion of the pleasure that could be derived from it). It’s important to recognize what you sacrifice from one experience when paired with another.

Natural multitaskers

Some people tend to multitask more naturally than others; or with greater facility than others in specific situations. Here’s an example: It only takes a couple episodes of watching Worst Cooks in America to recognize that the multitasking I do during the preparation of a meal does not come naturally to those not accustomed to cooking. There’s no rhythm, no planning ahead, no ease of execution - just panic and overwhelm.

In other situations, I am the one who lacks multitasking finesse. Read on, dear reader…

Some (I dare say many) people find that music helps them concentrate while performing certain tasks. For me, tasks that require my concentration suffer with auditory input which competes for my concentration and renders me unable to really attend to either. That is why I write, work on my computer and drive in complete silence which enables me to concentrate fully on the task at hand.

And then there’s this… When I’m already engaged in something like responding to a question, taking notes, listening to a speaker - I’m all in. When I’m engaged in doing Thing One, I cannot add Thing Two to the mix. I can’t say, retrieve a document while explaining a procedure; with me, it’s one or the other. I’m not wired for that dual functionality. I guess I’m a born single-tasker for the most part - and that’s a good thing to know about myself.

For me, there’s no silence in multitasking

Speaking of silence, in recent years, I’ve come to relish those times when I can indulge in the luxury of single-tasking; it’s where I access my “zone of genius.” It’s no surprise, then, that I’ve come to embrace meditation, which is the antithesis of multitasking. My definition of my practice: One focus, purposely sought, gently nudging away intrusive thoughts or feelings for a while… It might make a rabid multitasker itchy - yet it has proven to be by far the most powerful productivity tool in my arsenal. Why? Because I’m training my mind to function more efficiently. It’s in the slowing down and focusing on a single thing that I gain clarity and ease with everything.

I’ve recently had a groundbreaking revelation about productivity itself…

Redefining “it all”

Since beginning to learn meditation, I’ve discovered that I am satisfied with less; that it takes less to make me feel that I’ve done enough. In seeking out opportunities to have those deep, rich, single-tasking experiences, I am more fulfilled than when I frantically sought to do more, more, more. I’ve lost the craving for constant busyness, in favor of - as often as possible - slowing down and savoring an activity. It’s so much more fulfilling and satisfying!

And now, a story within a story…

I remember going to Scott’s grandmother’s house many years ago for holiday meals. These gatherings never felt welcoming; rather, I would get the impression that the only reason they happened is so that it could be said that they had happened. It felt like we were on a conveyor belt of duty-bound obligation. From the moment we’d sit at the table to eat, I had the feeling that every bite was leading, not to an enjoyable meal and fellowship, but to helping do the dishes and have the occasion come to an end.

I don’t want to live my life that way… skimming over and rushing through what could be meaningful experiences if only I take the opportunity to delight in them. I want to choose to do things with purpose and passion because they delight me - not mindlessly going through the motions and tallying up random undertakings to make me appear worthwhile by some superficial measure.

Multitasking… OUT - Mindfulness… IN

So it seems my opinion of multitasking is that, while it has its place in limited areas of life, it’s a myth that it’s the means by which we achieve greater work/life balance or move closer to “having it all.” The truth is, multitasking only helps us accomplish more. Honestly, what’s the point at which we can measure “more” and decide that we’ve reached “enough” so we can enjoy that sense of having it all or balance? The answer: There is no such point.

The only way we can hope to feel the satisfaction with our lives that we’re seeking is to say yes to the things - the work, the play, the focus, the stillness, that DO fulfill us and slow down enough to notice, appreciate and bask in them. The only sense of having it all comes from a willingness to redefine our heart’s desire as the things that bring us joy and fulfillment. I’ll take a big cup of that, please.