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Can You Multitask? More importantly, Should You Even Try?
By Penny | March 25, 2008
Our culture values multitasking, but many people are not able to do this. Perhaps multitasking is over-rated. When you watch a teenager doing homework, having several IM windows opened, using a cell phone and clicking at war of warcraft does it look productive? Perhaps this is why many students do homework from 3-10 pm daily that could be done from 3-5 if there were no other tasks done simultaneously.
Aside from questions of productivity, there are also questions about the quality of the attention. If you are answering e-mails while you are having a conversation, how good are the listening skills and attention you have in the conversation? Also how do you feel when you are multitasking? Do you feel split and stretched? Is it a peaceful feeling or one of being pulled in a few directions at once?
Psychologically, the simplicity of concentrating on one thing is satisfying and it seems more natural. Do you need to do all the things you are multitasking? What is really important to get accomplished? If you have homework, do you need to play world of warcraft? If you are watching your son playing soccer, do you need to do meal planning for the week and read the newspaper at same time? Are we really getting three things done at once when we multi-task or are we not experiencing anything fully?
Take one day and do one thing at a time and see how effective this is . Psychologically it is very restful to finish something rather than juggle several things at once. Look at your own state and compare how you feel inside and compare the outcomes. It makes sense to listen to the radio when driving but most of us are doing several things at the same time that each require a certain type of concentration and care. Does that really work? Are we saving time or are we losing being in the moment and sacrificing something far more precious?
Topics: Self Improvement |