What's your take? Is multitasking a myth?

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Permalink Reply by Tee Davis on February 24, 2009 at 4:17pm

It is key to getting organized even if you are "single" tasking. Multitasking involves not only wearing many hats but utilizing many parts of your brain's memory slots. As a 65 yr old "retired" entrepreneur/nanna/momma/friend, I have too much to shut out before I can get down to work. Oh, I have just moved back in with my daughter who thought that if I were in her home that it would help both of us. I now have added responsibilities to "be here" for the teenage boy (16 yrs old in August) and another grandson who is at the limbo stage of moving out. He drops in from time to time and his mom feels we are "obligated" to help with is requests because he is trying very hard to get a job and is finishing up special EMS certification courses. He gave up his home responsibilities because he says, "I don't live here." I now take on the duties of getting up no later than 7 am weekdays to fix breakfast for the 15 yr old, wash dishes, feed the two cute doggies, and feed the 1st cat (my daughter's cat -- and did I say I brought my cat (2nd cat) with me? Those of you who know cats understand why I made the distinction of 1st & 2nd cat. After the cats are assured that I have not forgotten to feed and water them, I make a few phone calls and fix myself breakfast.

Then I sit down to begin work at about 12 noon. My daughter has her break for lunch and she needs my attention so we talk until she visits her next patient in her home nurse visits. I must then hurry because my grandson will return home around 3 pm from school and will be asked to help him with whatever he needs. Sometimes I listen to his new guitar songs he made up (he's 8 months into his guitar lessons (I take him to his lessons every Saturday; and he's really good.) Now it's 2:30 and I'm hungry again so I take a few minutes to fix a snack. How on earth did I gain weight! Oh, now I have to clean up the dirty dishes from the snacks and drinks left by the 16 yr old because it's easier to do this than to beg, threaten, or yell at him to do. After all, I want my daughter to see how nice a job I did keeping the home intact while she is working 2 jobs and I'm at home all day with not much to do.

So, I sit down to my laptop and begin reading my emails and get sidetracked from my real goal of starting to work on my business plans. Now, I really have to hurry to get something done because it's almost time for daughter to come home and I must give her time to tell me about her day. All in all, I sent about 3 emails and made about 3 phone calls.

I have 4 businesses to get off the ground so I have to go now because it's almost time for my daughter to come home, my cat is watching me from outside and is hungry, my grandson is slamming the cabinet doors in the kitchen, and I've got to get this proposal written up and finish my website.

Did I mention that I'm disabled with a fractured ankle? I keep my doctor appointments along with these other tasks. I plan to build my own home on several acres and after I'm finished with all my tasks, I'll take a vacation.

Take one day at a time - one day to write out your goals. Complete three minor goals per day and work on completing one major goal per week. Decide on a Master Goal and work on the master goal and complete the major elements once per month. At the end of the day, the week, and the year you will realize that you have done so much more and still met your goals!

Tee

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Permalink Reply by Shay Olivarria on February 27, 2009 at 11:32am

I make a lot of lists.

Instead of trying to do everything at once, I write everything down that I need to do and then prioritize. Some things I can do simulaneusly and others I have to focus on. By listing everything on paper, it frees my head to actually do the work.

=)

PEACE

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Permalink Reply by Peter de Jager on February 27, 2009 at 1:52pm

While there are some things you can do at the same time - walking and chewing gum come to mind - you cannot have your 'attention' on two things at the same time. We can 'time share' back and forth between two activities - but you can't focus on two things simultaneously. Lot's of experimental evidence to back this up, not to mention the number of automobile accidents with cell phones involved.

One thing at a time. Get in the flow of what you're doing and you're far better off that slicing your attention into slivers.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Kaufman on March 1, 2009 at 11:08pm

Thanks for sharing your take on this, Marshall. FYI: The author offered me a free copy of his book (The Myth of Multitasking) to send to someone of my choosing. Would you like that free copy? Reply directly to me via e-mail (andy@i-leadonline.com) if you're interested. Here's to a great week for us all!

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Permalink Reply by Catherine White on March 2, 2009 at 9:46pm

The Myth of Multitasking? Hmmmmm ... I believe I was born multitasking.

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