Why Multitasking is a Bad Idea

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Why multitasking is a bad idea

Many people advocate developing the art of multitasking, on the mistaken belief that that performing multiple tasks will multiply their personal effectiveness.

Multitasking sounds like a good idea, but it's wrong.

It is wrong, because it fails to consider the fact that, the conscious mind can only focus on one thing at a time.

You can prove this to yourself. Try writing a letter, whilst simultaneously reciting a nursery rhyme. You won't be able to do it.

If you try both, you'll do neither.

Think of a magnifying glass that is being used to concentrate light onto a single point. At the focus point, the concentrated heat can do a lot of work.

Now remove the lens from the magnifying glass, and change it for plain glass (a non-lens). Now the glass spreads its energy; but at no point is it of sufficient intensity to get any work done.

You can either use your mind as a lens, capable of focusing your forces, and thus creating a high degree of mind power.

Or you could use your mind as a non-lens, dissipate your thought-forces and become incapable of any useful work.

This is the negative consequence of multitasking.

So, we can say that multitasking is a bad idea.

Prioritisation

Instead of multitasking, we recommend that you prioritise your tasks, do them one-at-a time, with 100% of your mental focus.

Then you will make more progress, in less time.

We have created a fantastic free app that will enable you to prioritise your tasks: WhatsNext? Prioritisation App.

Why not give it a try and discover the best way to organise your time?

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Further Reading in Time Management

• Why multitasking is a bad idea
  We all have so much to do and so little time, that we believe multitasking is the answer. The truth is however, that not only is multitasking stressful, it is inefficient. So, why is multitasking a bad idea and what is the alternative?
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• Time management - Productive power
  Time Management - Productive Power How to get more done in the same amount of time You are judged on your productive power Your "Productive Power" is defined as "a measure of the amount of productive work you can do in a unit of time". Your productive power is a ratio...
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• Britain's Productivity Crisis Solved in Eight Hours
  Solving Britain's productivity puzzle starts with improving the habits of every individual. By improving individuals, you can improve the productivity of whole organisations. Don't wait for someone else to solve the productivity crisis.
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• 20 Top Time Management Tips
  It is an interesting fact that the 20 top time management skills all start with the letter P. I call it the P-List time management skills. Here is the time management skills P-List
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• Managing Stress
  Reducing your stress levels can be achieved by management of your work load and time pressures, together with managing the emotional responses to such pressures.
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