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

• Time Management Training: Rational Planning
  Are you a logical person? Do you run on reason or emotions? Effective action relies on your ability to think and act rationally, to judge things correctly and to treat every person and every problem, according to reason.
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• How Can I Improve my Time Management Skills?
  Do you find you don't have enough time to do everything you need to? Become a more efficient individual by improving your time management skills. Here are nine suggestions to get you on track to be more effective and better able to manage your time.
  Read Article >
• How to Prioritise Effectively
  Prioritisation is at the heart of time management. You cannot do multiple things at the same time; you must put tasks into a priority order. There are four ways that you can prioritise your tasks and be a better time manager.
  Read Article >
• Time Management Quiz
  Review these time management questions and pick out four of them for special attention.
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• How to prioritise your day
  In order to prioritise your work properly, judge every task against two criteria: the value of the task and the deadline pressure.
  Read Article >