Are you a person who does some activities at the same time?
Talk on the phone with a customer while entering data into the computer system. Cook dinner and help children with their homework. Reading emails while chatting with coworkers.
If you can do such work at the same time, you’re probably a multi-task person like me.
Multitasking is the simultaneous performance of more than one activity. It entails handling different tasks, shifting attention from one activity to another, or performing two or more activities in quick succession.
Being a multitask person has some pros and cons.
As a multi-task person, I can save time because I can do some of my tasks simultaneously. My boss is proud of me because I can do other’s tasks so it is no need to hire more people. First, I was glad and pleased to be a super talented person. But after a few times, I realized that I have just deceived myself.
Sometimes It is hard to focus equally on either task. Cause I become confused and waste my time when I want to switch between the tasks.
I am an anxious person and I figured out that trying to do tasks together makes me more anxious and stressed.
Also, in my workplace, my colleagues object me to not cooperating with them. But I prefer to do tasks alone rather than work with others. So, this sometimes becomes a problem for me.
Being a multi-tasking person, I faced a lot of trouble. From increasing stress levels, less productivity, and difficulty concentrating to disrupting my sleep pattern because of working on several tasks into the night.
So, I started to seek some solutions for my bad habit. I’ve tried many ways and asked a lot of people. Here are some solutions I use to break this habit:
6 ways to stop multitasking
1. Set priorities:
The first and most important step is to set priorities. Figure out what tasks are most important and need your immediate attention. Then, work on those tasks one at a time until they are done.
Because of that, I always write my tasks on a to-do list each night and prioritize them. This will help me focus and avoid getting overwhelmed by too many tasks.
2. Take breaks:
Another way to stop multitasking is to take breaks. When I feel overwhelmed, step away from my work and take a few minutes to relax. This will help clear my head and allow me to come back to my tasks with fresh energy.
I usually do meditation, take a nap, or go for a walk to recover my energy.
3. Simplify the work:
One of the reasons that people are multitasking is that their work is too complicated. I always try to break down my big projects into smaller tasks that I can work on one at a time.
This will make it easier to focus and get things done without feeling overwhelmed.
4. Set time limits:
One of the best ways to stop multitasking for me is to set time limits for each task. For instance, when I’m working on a report, give myself 50 minutes to complete it and take 10 minutes break. I resume the work for another 50 minutes and so on. Once the time is up, move on to the next task.
This will help me focus and avoid getting bogged down by one study.
5. Turn off distractions:
Another way I’m doing to stop multitasking is to turn off distractions like the Tv, phone, social media, etc. This will allow me to give my full attention to the task and get it done more quickly.
So, most of the time I turn off my phone, close the door to my workplace, put my headphones on, listen to instrumental music, and focus on my job.
6. Train my mind:
I figured out I can also train my mind to focus on one task at a time.
This means that I need to practice focusing my attention on one thing. There are many ways to do this:
– meditation
– deep breathing
– visualization
– yoga
The bottom line:
The habit of multitasking can lower your levels of productivity, focus, and stress. You must learn to concentrate on one item at a time if you want to be more productive and less anxious. Use the advice given above to stop multitasking and begin concentrating on the task at hand.