Single-tasking

The dark power of multitasking

… why single-tasking (mono tasking) is the better idea

Multitasking is in. But actually there is no such thing as multitasking because our brain is not designed for it. What most people call multitasking is actually switching quickly from one task to another. This quick switching is possible, but it's exhausting and it costs our brain a lot of energy. So multitasking is not a good idea.

Anyone skeptical now is in good company. After all, multitasking is hip and is considered a productivity accelerator.

Solving a math problem while walking

Skeptics therefore simply try the following: The next time you go for a walk with a friend, give him a math problem - something like "16 x 73".

What will happen? Your friend will probably stop walking for a moment to solve the problem. The reason is that this math problem is too difficult -
if you´d asked him to calculate "2+2", your friend wouldn´t stop.

This means that you can do two simple tasks at the same time, e.g. walking and talking. So multitasking works for very simple tasks. But it doesn't work if one task is more difficult, e.g. walking and solving a tricky math problem simultaneously.

The math would work even less if you were trying to turn left in heavy traffic at the same time. And by the way, that´s why many people turn down the radio when parking.

Another "experiment" to try: Try going through your email mailbox while listening to a podcast or participating in a conference call. Afterward try to recap the key points of the conversation. Can you name the 5 most important key messages?

The “invisible” gorilla experiment

A demonstration of how difficult it is to focus on two things at once:

During a psychology experiment at Havard University, some people were asked to watch a video of people playing basketball. As they watched, they were asked to count the number of passes made by a team. At one point, a person in a gorilla costume appeared and ran across the court, staying on the screen for nine seconds. The surprising result: half the people counting the passes didn't notice the gorilla at all. It was as if he was invisible.

So what? Just do Single-tasking

The the best way to optimize your "energy management" is:

Avoid distractions and do things step by step.

Single-tasking (Monotasking) is not only more efficient, but it also leads to fewer mistakes. And on top of that, it leads to more satisfaction because you are simply less stressed. Doing two things at once usually means you can only do them half-heartedly. Ultimately, however, we are satisfied when we engage wholeheartedly.

♡♡♡

A student asked his master "Master, why are you never stressed?"
The master said: "When I sit, I sit; when I stand, I stand; when I walk, I walk." - Student: "But Master, that´s what we all do!" - Teacher: "No, you don't do that. When you sit, you are already standing, when you stand, you are already walking, and when you walk, you have already reached your destination."

(Buddhist wisdom)

Ideas for
simply. inspired. work.