Multitasking’s making you worse at your job

I love TV. But I'm bad at watching it. Which is crazy since it only just includes three very straightforward steps:

Turn the TV on.

Face eyeballs toward the TV.

Watch.

I typically go wrong by adding a fourth step in with the general mish-mash: Scroll through my phone until the point that the battery dies or my thumb goes numb — really whichever comes first. Also because of that, I have to rewind a lot. An hour long episode takes me, on average, around four hours to get through.

I mean, I don't plan on this happening. I always think I can do both. However each and every time, I'll get so fascinated in my social media that when I glance back at the TV, the main character's dead.
And I'm all like, What? How did that happen? Mere minutes ago she was getting married.

Furthermore, now her ex (they wedded and separated!) is at her burial service with their three children (she didn't even want kids!)… in space (they used to live on Earth!).

I approach meetings at work the similar way. I get my laptop along just in case I have to reference details, facts, emails, dog memes, charts, et cetera. I generally plan on focusing. But one "let me just respond to this email real quick " transforms into another. Also, before I know it, I'm deep into a project that is not due for months. What's more, I don't realize I'm not exactly focusing until I'm called on.

You know who doesn't earn a reputation as a hard working employee? The person who reacts to "Jenni, what do you consider of that?" with "Um, well, in my brain I have thoughts, which do things like think, so I think a lot about that, however with my reasoning thoughts, I'd have to say, yes? Or, on the other hand the face you're making suggests that the appropriate response is no? Hm, is it not a 'yes or no' question? Would I be able to get a hint? Can I interest you in a dog meme?"

Recently, I had a three-hour meeting that my colleague banned laptops from. I protested. I cried. I claimed the world would fall apart. The answer remained — even if I got my laptop with me, I was not permitted to even consider opening it up.

And I'll tell you what!

In that meeting, not only did the world not fall to pieces, but I so much more out of it. It's astonishing how productive a meeting can be when you're not half-listening, half-passsive-aggressive-email-chain-fighting about a bridal shower gift.

 So, why am I telling you this story? Because I bet you're like me. That you believe you're the one special case to the "multitasking makes you less productive" rule. Even if you can't bring your laptop to meeting, or you don't have meetings, I'd guess there are times when you attempt to do two things at once. And, that you're worse off for it.

This week, I challenge you to try doing one thing at a time. Maybe that's putting aside time to check your email — and just your email. Maybe it's turning off your Wi-Fi while you complete that big presentation. Maybe it's putting your phone away till your project's finished. Or, maybe it's not deep diving into your secondary school frenemy's Instagram while you're trying to watch your favourite show.

Whatever you do, do it — just for one week. I don't want to play psychic, but I feel confident that you'll be amazed at how much better you are at accomplishing something when you're concentrating on just that.