How do you define multitasking?
As a mom, I've been multitasking for years, like doing a load of laundry while making dinner, or folding clothes when talking on the phone. That variety of multitasking, I think, is good.
One thing I've learned over the years, though, is when it comes to writing and office work, multitasking is not a great idea. I've tried sending an email while talking on the phone, for example, and couldn't focus on either. I shortchanged one or both parties in the process.
It sounds good in theory. Multitasking gets more accomplished in a day. Or does it? I've heard it said that multitasking means doing many things but none of them well. What do you think?
I wonder if the multitasking mentality, in part anyway, comes from a society driven to "do". We must accomplish something all the time, it seems, and multitasking acts as a means to that end.
In this Harvard Business Review Blog Network article, How (and Why) to Stop Multitasking, Peter Bregman shares his observations. He says we are 40% less productive when multitasking, and noticed his productivity increase significantly in his week long experiment not to multitask.
Do you think multitasking is a good way to get things done? What kind do you do?
Have a great week!
Happy writing,
Karen
P.S. I was interviewed recently by Grace Conyers at Insanitek. The topic is home education, so if you or anyone you know is homeschooling, I invite you to check it out. For the record, Grace coined the "guru" title in her kind intro. Had to smile, never thought of myself as one! :)
Photo image: Stock Exchange
