Picture this: you’re on the phone with someone or in a group meeting and simultaneously jotting down notes, checking your email, and thinking about what’s for dinner. Seems fine, right? If someone were to call you out in that situation for multitasking, you’d probably react defensively: “I’m listening, I swear! I’m really good at doing two things at once. I’m making the best use of my time—besides, I’m just sitting here anyway.” And you’d be wrong.
Nobody is “good” at multitasking. While multitasking is a necessary skill, at times, for managing tasks and responsibilities in your professional and personal life, it shouldn’t be your default approach to every situation because it forces your brain to do several things at once. Even though you think you’re performing at high capacity in this way, it’s more likely you’re half-assing each thing you’re trying to do, which takes more time and energy in the long run. On average, says University of California distraction expert Gloria Mark, it takes about twenty-five minutes to return to your original task after an interruption—and when you’re multitasking, you’re basically interrupting yourself over and over. It’s also ridiculously apparent when someone is multitasking right in front of you, whether he’s typing away on a laptop while nodding emphatically or listening to you with a dead-eyed expression.
Try to single-task in an effort to be fully present, bringing your best energy to a situation or a person. Show up in conversations, and notice when others don’t—and how it makes you feel as a result.
TRY THIS
This week practice single-tasking in every interaction, meeting, or conversation. If you’re on the phone, keep your mind focused on that; if you’re making dinner, stop simultaneously cleaning the kitchen and reading your email. Come up with a phrase to keep you on track, such as “one thing at a time,” “slow down,” “pay attention,” or my personal favorite, “eye contact.”