How Single-Tasking Can Increase Your Efficiency

Are you great at multitasking, but don’t understand why you still feel so overwhelmed and busy every single day?

Multitasking has a cost

It might be time to reconsider the benefit of multitasking.

Research, such as those from the American Psychological Association, suggests that multitasking decreases your efficiency.

In fact, the term multitasking – performing several tasks simultaneously – is misleading because in reality, your brain performs one task after another in rapid succession.

Switching tasks takes time and can also induce errors. You become less efficient when the complexity of your task increases.

Benefits of single-tasking

I recommend that you try single-tasking and see if it makes a difference. You will realize how doing one task at a time will help you stay focused and get things done more efficiently.

You save time and effort as your brain does not have to continuously switch between tasks and remember where it was after each switch.

When you have a clear list of tasks, it is easier to schedule and block the time to complete them one by one, and in a specific order.

Single-tasking will not only help you be more efficient, but also lower your level of stress if you complete the important tasks first.

You have a feeling of accomplishment each time a task is completed.

Giving full attention to one single task helps you feel more present in what you do. It improves the quality of your life, professionally and personally.

How to start single-tasking now

Here are a few steps you can apply right now to have one task done without feeling overwhelmed:

• Select the most important task that you want to complete today or tomorrow
• Write down what you would do to celebrate its completion
• Block a dedicated time in your agenda to work on your task
• Make sure that there will be no distractions during that time
• Complete your task at the scheduled time
• Celebrate

Which task do you plan to work on? Share your achievements in the comment section below and let’s celebrate together.