As we approach the end of April, the second month of autumn in Sydney, Australia, the cooler weather has arrived with little warning. We have transitioned from warm days to cold ones.
We are gradually going into the second quarter of the year, and some of us may realise that the things we planned to do, we have not achieved.
Multitasking: Doing more than one task at a time
The topic of multitasking came to me when I reflected on how, at times, we juggle so many things and are unaware of how it impacts us and the stress we place on ourselves.
I, too, am guilty of it.
I hope that wherever you are while you are reading this article that you find something helpful.
Perhaps you will reassess the activities you have planned. Maybe you need to make some minor adjustments, or maybe not.
Tune In To Yourself
We often aspire to accomplish many tasks, but in doing so, we put our minds, bodies, and emotional well-being under significant pressure.
When multitasking, juggling multiple things at once.
Consider the questions below, and as always, answer them truthfully.
It is only when we are honest with ourselves that we can become aware that change needs to happen.
If you are happy with your answers, that is great. Continue doing what you are doing.
There is no right or wrong.
- Are you aware you are multitasking?
- Are you feeling overwhelmed?
- Are you feeling anxious?
- Are you placing more importance on others’ needs than your needs?
- Have you taken on too much?
- Are there some tasks/chores you can delegate?
- Are you productive?
- Are you exhausted at the end of the day?
- What changes can I make?
Learn to say NO and take the pressure off yourself. If you don’t have the time, you don’t have the time.
You cannot create a 25th hour.
It is crucial to remain aware. Life brings changes, some of which we do not expect, so it is important to be flexible when these changes occur and adjust our daily activities accordingly to prevent feeling overwhelmed.
My Personal Experience
I have become more aware, acknowledging what I can fit into my day, and what is a priority for that day.
Working from home brings with it it’s own challenges, separating personal time with work time and domestic duties.
I remember when I first started to work from home, the thought that I can achieve so much because I am home and I don’t need to commute, slowly became a nightmare of chasing my tail.
Time management was never more important.
You Are Not Superwoman or Superman
The questions to ask are:
- How do I feel at the end of the day?
- Have I given everything 100%, or was the 100% divided into 4 or 5 tasks?
- Which means you gave each task 25% or 20%.
- You may feel you gave each task your 100%, and maybe you did, but how do you feel?
- Too tired to have a chat on the phone with a friend?
- Too tired to do something nurturing for yourself?
What Does The Research Show?
Research from American Psychology Association shows that multitasking, doing more than one task at a time, especially more than one complex task, takes a toll on productivity.
Psychologists who study what happens to cognition (mental processes) when people try to perform more than one task at a time have found that the mind and brain were not designed for heavy-duty multitasking.
Multitasking can result in catastrophe. For example, talking on the phone while driving, checking emails while on the phone.
I hope you found the article helpful. Did you discover anything new about yourself after reading it?
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Feel free to email me or send a message.
Additionally, please share the article with anyone you think might find it useful.
Warmest regards,
Christine
