No matter what profession you are in, there are times when multitasking is required in order to complete a task. Whether you are juggling a million balls in the air or just a few, knowing how to effectively multitask is an essential work skill that is expected by most employers.
But what if I told you multitasking is actually detrimental to you and the tasks you are trying to complete…mind blown right!
Multitasking at a Basic Level
According to the dictionary, the definition of multitasking is “the performance of more than one task at the same time.” Multitasking can also be thought of as switching back and forth between one thing to another or performing a variety of tasks in rapid succession.
Multitasking at Work
Take a moment to think about your role as an employee. Now think about the daily tasks you do on a routine basis. How many tasks are you juggling on average?
For example, when I am sitting at my desk, I am normally performing comparisons, completing casework documentation, checking my email, responding to emails, looking at social media, and chatting with my coworkers. Am I actually performing my job to the best of my abilities…I would like to say yes but there is always room for improvement!
The Detrimental Side of Multitasking
So if multitasking is such an essential skill to have in the workplace, why is it not what it’s cracked up to be? Well for starters, studies have shown that the human brain can’t handle more than one task at a time. For those of you who think you are effectively multitasking, you are actually just switching from one task to another really quickly.
According to the book Brain Rules by John Medina, we waste more time multitasking than actually focusing on a single task at hand. Think about all the times you are interrupted by a coworker, a rush case or work emergency, social media breaks, etc. Your brain is constantly switching back and forth between all these activities. This eventually results in taking the average person 50% longer to accomplish their original task.
I lived that exact statistic last week. I started processing a case in the lab that on a good day should have taken me no longer than an hour to complete start to finish. While in the middle of processing my attention got diverted with an unexpected, last-minute meeting, an influx of emails that required immediate responses, edits needed to be made to past cases in the tech review phase, and I got super hungry and needed a snack #hangry! Four hours later I finished my case.
Did you know that multitasking leads to your IQ dropping anywhere from 10 to 40 points? I learned that stat from the “How to Be Awesome at Your Job” podcast hosted by Pete Mockaitis. I don’t know about y’all, but I need all the IQ points I can get on a given day! Multitaskers are also known to make up to 50% more errors…yikes!
How to Effectively Multitask at Work
Despite the bad rap multitasking has gotten, there are ways to effectively multitask without becoming another bad statistic.
Take time to manage your tasks
Invest in a planner, sticky notes, or whatever you use to make lists and make a list! Prioritize the tasks at hand for the day, week, month, and even year! Be flexible with yourself and your tasks. Life happens and being able to adjust to a curveball is essential for success.
Be realistic about time
Whether you are well settled into your employment role or just starting a new one, it is important to realize the importance of time. Devote a said amount of time to your task at hand and do your best not to stray from it until it’s completed. You will feel accomplished once it’s complete and the work will be more accurate. Try implementing the 20-30 minute rule where you devote that amount of time to a task before switching to a new one.
Learn the power of “No”
I am such a people pleaser so when someone asks me to do something at work, my automatic response is “of course!” This often time leads to distraction, my tasks taking longer to complete, and multiple errors being made along the way. I have had to work really hard to set healthy boundaries for myself in the workplace to prevent ineffective multitasking and feeling overwhelmed.
Use a reward system
Technology is such a beautiful thing but man, it sure knows how to lure me in. While sitting at my desk, I often found myself distracted by social media. Just a quick scroll through Instagram can lead down a dark bunny hole…anyone else guilty of this?!? Now I try to use responding to texts or checking the Insta as a “reward” for completing a task. This system has allowed me to focus more on the task at hand, manage my time more effectively, and my work product is better.
Limit the number of tasks you are juggling
Maybe instead of batch processing 4 cases, try just 2 cases. Or maybe hold off listening to that webinar until you have completed writing all of your case reports. Figure out a system that works effectively (effectively being the keyword here) for you…it may take time and a little bit of trial and error but you will get there!
I hope these pointers help you to navigate a beautiful balance between all of your daily tasks!
I wish you the best of luck during your workday! May it be productive, fulfilling, and free of errors and distraction!
