Saving time by NOT multitasking

**Russ H** · Sep 24th, 2010, 02:56 PM

I suck at multi-tasking. I can do it, but I always feel too discombobulated.

I have lots of friends who brag about how well they can multi-task, but y'know what?

I can tell when they're doing it when I'm on the phone w/them.

They're just not "engaged" in the conversation. More like they're monitoring it.

I'll even say things like "Hey, I heard that your gf slept with your granmother, that's pretty cool!", and they'll mumble something like, "Yeah, it was great".

They respond to emotion/inflection, but don't really listen to what is being said.

Here's a pc on "Singletasking":

A Case for Singletasking: The One-Task-At-a-Time Method

Says pretty much the same thing.

My favorite multi-tasking thing is driving and getting biz done on the cell phone. But I have to be VERY careful-- have you ever been at home, talking to someone who was driving? They have all the time in the world, so they can go on and on and on . . .

How about you? Do you love to multi-task? Do you feel you honestly can be as good at doing both things at the same time, or do you knowingly "give up" 50% of your concentration for each activity?

-Russ H.

**GoldenEggs** · Sep 24th, 2010, 05:29 PM

I multi-task household chores. When I am making meals, while the oven is heating or the pan is preheating, I prep the food. Then while my food bakes, simmers or cooks, I clean up and wash the prep dishes and utensils.

I just started walking to the grocery store with my son in his stroller. I end up going more frequently but I also buy just what I need for a few days. I have less wasted food. Plus I get exercise and I still interact with my son, I ask him what sounds animal makes, we say the alphabet or we sing songs.

I try to find ways to multi-task. But if I am doing bills or on a business call or reading a book, I can not do something else, not even listen to the radio. I do try grouping like tasks and do it from easiest to hardest.

**FDJustin** · Sep 24th, 2010, 06:41 PM

I tend to need to multi-task just a little. I need some other tasks that are somewhat passive to keep me feeling... Energetic, I guess? It's a fine balance to be sure, it's easy to just get distracted instead of actually being productive on multiple fronts, or in my case using other things to keep the mental tempo up... 'cuz usually my secondary focuses aren't important.

Conversation, especially verbal conversation is terrible for multi-tasking. It's already a multi-task scenario. You have to listen (or at least wait your turn to talk- How many of us do that? We think of something to say part way through the other sides conversation, and we practically ignore anything else said so we can hold the thought.) Form your responses, and speak it in a way that can be understood.
The worst scenario there for me is to be trying to both type and talk at the same time. It's simply impossible.

P.S. As a quick example of something I consider an unimportant periphery task and how it's done right: If I have the TV on, but not too loud, and I'm not looking at it, it tends to work. This goes wrong if whatever is on is too distracting, or I'm seated in a way that I can look at the TV.

Casual IMing also works for me. This stops being a useful gentle secondary task when I have to / want to shift more focus to the conversation for whatever reason.

The above two certainly aren't productive periphory tasks, and that's kind of the point... Several important things going on at once gets overwhelming and vie for too much attention. None the less, this one potentially is productive:
If I'm working away at something, I keep a secondary notepad open where I can switch over and quickly slip down ideas, cliffnotes, frustrations, whatever. Of course, it gets to be bad when I start chasing other ideas instead of whatever task I was on.

**The-J** · Nov 1st, 2011, 02:06 PM

my thoughts on multi-tasking: if it requires more than 50% of your concentration, do not do it in conjunction with something else. not even if the concentration required to do both things at once is less than 100%.

however, i will often balance two or three mindless tasks at once in order to get them all done as fast as possible. for example, i will eat while i walk, and i will talk on the phone while folding clothes (this varies with the conversation, however: if it is important, i won't multi-task it).

another thing i will do is break one thing and do something else. it's not good because it severely hinders my productivity, but it seems like it's an old habit i don't want to break. it's not that i can't focus, it's just the focus that i am putting isn't what i want to focus on at that time (for example, school work).