(Disclaimer - Multitasking is not a bad thing, It helps in many ways but in this article I want to stress on the importance of Mono-tasking in a heavily distracted and competitive world)
It was possibly the worst 60 minutes of my life. I couldn’t get out of it and that day I realized how often we take things for granted. The way we’re on a weird high and slowing down seems so sinful. Not to mention the kind of emotional and mental exhaustion that comes along.
I was entertaining people and I wasn’t particularly fond of them but I knew etiquette and was respectful and polite enough with them. But the same courtesy wasn’t extended to me. That is something I didn’t appreciate. But the more I think about it the more I feel this is just the beginning. So, here I was smiling and trying to make conversation and suddenly I see this woman conflicted between using her smartphone and listening to me. It didn’t take me long enough to realize her smartphone was so much more entertaining that I was. (I’m just speculating)
Anyway, I see this happening and somehow, I fell prey to this cold competition with her smartphone. At one point I remember talking very loudly to get her attention fixed on me. But I failed. Obviously, the phone wasn’t the problem. This woman tried to multitask having a conversation and using her phone. Which was quite disastrous. Eventually I accepted defeat and stopped talking altogether. Sadly, the woman didn’t notice that I’d gone mute and the phone got her full attention after all. Which was both sad (on her part) and humiliating (on my part, briefly).
I can somehow never grasp the concept of multitasking. I’m very good with multi-passionate and definitely advocate it but multitasking is not for me.
I always felt that multitasking was extremely cool and that is something I haven’t been able to achieve even today. But then again, I can’t do what the woman (whom I had to entertain) did. Come to think of it, I prefer mono-tasking. I find mono-tasking not only peaceful but extremely effortless.
Here’s why -
#1 – It requires your full attention –
While mono-tasking, the idea is to focus on one task at a time, goes without saying the attention cannot be split into two tasks. So, if I’m reading, I can’t also be watching Netflix or worse texting. I won’t be able to fully commit to either.
#2 – It gets more work done in less time –
This is obviously a no brainer. Multitasking brings a lot of distractions along with it and when I’m focusing on a single task, I’m prone to get work done without distractions. So, while I’m tying this article, I’m not doing anything else that equally requires my attention. Making my thoughts more precise, less distraction ergo I complete the article in given time (even lesser).
#3 – No physical or emotional exhaustion –
Since my full focus and attention is on one thing, I don’t tire out easily and my mind is not exhausted which otherwise would experience exhaustion. I would definitely tire myself if I had to have an in-person conversation with someone as well as keep checking my phone. May not seem at that time but I would tire myself eventually.
#4 – Less Distraction –
Similar to point 2, there definitely less distraction. By less distraction I’ve realized I feel more confident in my ability to make decisions and make better choices. At the same time, it helps to keep my overthinking in check.
#5 – Less Guilt –
I love reading and I love streaming a good movie and I want to enjoy these activities without any guilt or for the sake of passing time. When I schedule time for a game or for a movie or a book and fully enjoy that there’s no guilt looming over me for having wasted time. Which I would do if I were trying to accomplish a task and at the same time watch a movie. Guilt causes further distraction and burnout.
#6 – Always have time for more –
There is so much more to schedule in when one task is completed after the next instead of scramming everything all at once. This is essential to save time for family, loved ones and even for yourself, to do all that you always want to do but ‘work gets in the way’.
#7 – Completed tasks –
Call me a nerd but I really hate incomplete tasks and reluctantly having to move on to the next task, all the while thinking about the incomplete task. Mono-tasking means I complete one task at a time and this ensures that I complete the task. This also allows me to be more creative and fully present for the next task.
These are some of my reasons for mono-tasking and clients who have adopted this have found that they have a better control of their productivity and they have so much to show for all their hard work. Some of them are working women plus moms and they somehow find that mono-tasking helps them give clear attention to their kids and they work without having to feel guilty about the other. They sleep better, their social life has improved, they always have time for all that really matters. They no longer feel overwhelmed and overburdened by the things they need to do.
Mono-tasking has been chalked down to boring, routine, too serious, slow paced – but I feel it balances the already fast paced lives that we live. It compliments and is compatible with the instant life we are accustomed to. Digitally our lives have become so much faster and without a doubt it is a relief to be in digital era.
In my opinion, if we take it one task at a time, we don’t become slow paced, it makes it easier to catch up to the day to day without the cliché of feeling very stressed and overwhelmed.
In this article I’ve talked about work since that is my priority but you can replace it with your priority which could be work or even your family, your physical health, your passion, your daily chores, your relationships etc.,
Thank you for stopping by.