Time and money are the two commodities that most people wish they could increase. I recently read that in a survey of working mothers, time was more precious than money.
Time management skills are important in our fast-paced society, as it seems we have more tasks to accomplish than the time in which to do them. We've all heard that we need to increase our skill of multitasking so that we can be more efficient. I did a little research and the consensus among the experts seems to be that multitasking makes one less efficient rather than more efficient, as the constant switching from one role to another causes mental exhaustion.
Web-MD states, "Edward Hallowell, M.D. … insists that true multitasking is a myth. We may feel we’re doing two — or more — things at once, but it’s an illusion." (http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/why-multitasking-isnt-efficient#1)
Apparently, most of us who think we are multitasking aren't; what we are doing is "shifting back and forth from one task to another….The problem with trying to multi-task is all that shifting back and forth between tasks isn’t all that efficient because, each time we do it, it takes our brain some time to refocus. So while it might seem efficient on the surface, it isn’t — studies show that multitasking can reduce productivity by as much as 40 percent." (See https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2017/02/06/want-to-be-more-productive-stop-multitasking/#14b3752a55a6)
So we think we are being more efficient, when in reality we are being less productive, perhaps even 40 percent less.
What is the solution? Maybe the old way wasn't so wrong. Concentrate on one task until it is completed. Do you remember the OHIO principle, "only handle it once?" When we concentrate on the task at hand, we won't miss important details that we may miss while doing tasks simultaneously.
The chance for errors is much higher when we do several jobs at once. It is imperative that we give our employers a quality finished product, not one full of inaccuracies because we are so busy juggling several things.
We all need to make sure we relax and have some "down" time at home. Read that book you've been eyeing. Turn off the television and the cell phone and allow yourself to recharge. We will all feel more focused and energized. Then we can accomplish our home tasks.
Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Forget the multitasking myth