Single-Tasking for Productivity and Stress Management

I used to be a big fan of multitasking when it became a popular strategy for productivity. The idea of doubling productivity by doing multiple things at once is quite appealing for busy people, and these days most of us are busy people.

With so much on our plates at all times and only so many hours in the day, it can sometimes feel like the only way to get things done is to juggle them all at once. However, multitasking can actually negatively affect productivity and efficiency. If that resonates with you, single-tasking may be the answer.

At the end of the day, the most effective and least stressful way to work through a given series of tasks may just be to focus on them one at a time.

Multitasking and Your Brain

Focusing on more than one task at a time, repeatedly switching back and forth between two or more tasks, or focusing on many things in a short period of time can all be considered 'multitasking' and they can all leave you less focused and efficient than you may think.

This is because it takes time for your mind to adjust to a shift in focus; each time you switch your focus, you are creating another need for your mind to re-focus, and this can drain you of time and energy. It can also mean that when you multitask between more than one activity that requires thought of focus, it takes longer than it would have taken if you had focused on each task individually.

When Multi-Tasking Works

When you group a task that requires focus and concentration with one that is mainly physical and something that can be done on 'auto-pilot,' multitasking actually works well. This is because you can put most of your focus on one activity and let the other one get done secondarily; you don't need to keep shifting a high level of focus from one activity to the other. Here are some examples of paired activities that are more amenable to multi-tasking:

• Listening to music or audiobooks while exercising
• Having a casual conversation while doing housework

When It Doesn't Work

Multi-tasking can be a focus-killer and energy drain when you are attempting two or more tasks that require conscious thought. Here are some examples of activities that are best done separately:

• Listening to music or audiobooks while writing or reading
• Having a casual conversation while doing homework (unless you are talking about the homework itself)
• Performing a work task while in a meeting about something else

How to Make Single-Tasking Work for You

If you find yourself multi-tasking much of the time, consider taking a break from it. You don't need to give up multi-tasking entirely, but give single-tasking a try. See how you feel when you incorporate these strategies when possible.

Focus

When you feel tempted to cram too many activities into the same space, give yourself permission to choose the most important thing for the moment and focus solely on it, if possible. (You may need to create a plan for when you can address the other activities that need doing before you can clear them from your mind, but this is part of the process. For more on this, see "chunking" below.) If there are simply too many things to do, you may need to pare down some of your responsibilities. Don't worry, we'll get to that in a minute, too.

Utilize "Chunking"

When you have many tasks to do throughout the day, 'chunking' is a useful time management strategy that saves you from multi-tasking. The concept behind chunking is to set aside chunks of time to focus on one specific task while minimizing interruptions, and grouping similar tasks together (like checking all email at once rather than throughout the day) to focus on then all at once during a specific chunk of time.

This eliminates the extra time it takes to quickly shuttle from one activity to another and ultimately saves time as long stretches of the day are spent with greater focus and efficiency.

Pare Down Your Schedule

If you find yourself chronically multi-tasking out of necessity because there's simply too much to do, single-tasking can help because you actually reduce the overall amount of time it takes to get things done. But you may also benefit from cutting out some of the commitments in your schedule that are not absolutely necessary.

Do you have any habits that drain your schedule but do not serve you or commitments that you could drop without any lasting, strongly negative consequences? Looking at your priorities and at your schedule, as it is now, considers if you can reduce the sheer number of things you need to do in a day, and you might feel less stressed and pressed for time.

This may require some awkward conversations with friends, loved ones, and coworkers, but there's a good chance they have been in your shoes and will understand your need to dial things back. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself, and also to make sure there is time in your day set aside for you to do nothing at all!