Multitasking is common in our increasingly connected world. We’re paying attention to an increasing number of sources of incoming information.
Sometimes we do it as a conscious attempt to get more done. More often, we do it without thinking – we’re just scanning our environment for ‘new stuff’.
Most of the time it doesn’t help us. Because, when multitasking we actually get less things done. And the quality of our work is poorer.
Even worse, multitasking makes us unhappy. It puts you on high alert, for no good reason. Our fight/flight response gets triggered, releasing stress hormones.
We are the generation capable of doing many things at once, without enjoying any of them.
Dinesh Kumar Biran, entrepreneur
Here’s 5 ways to get your focus back:
1: Kill Your Notifications
Your phone and other devices shouldn’t decide what’s worthy of your attention.
Ruthlessly turn off notifications (including badges on app icons), except for the essentials that you choose.
2: Airplane Mode
This is the killer app for focus.
You don’t have to wonder what’s happening on your phone – there’s nothing new until you decide to switch it off.
3: Pomodoro Technique
Use a timer to focus on a single task for 25 minutes. Take a 5 minute break, then repeat the cycle.
This helps you to ‘mono-task’, with time-limited breaks to indulge in distractions.
4: Most Important Thing
At the start of the day, choose one important thing that will take less than 1 hour to do (break off a chunk of a bigger project if needed).
Do this thing early in the day, and make yourself unavailable until it’s done.
5: Leave The Room
If you’re in a meeting or call and you receive a message/notification that you feel the need to respond to …
Excuse yourself, leave the room/call, give it full attention. If you’re not willing to do that, it can wait.
