One at a Time
Multi-tasking isn’t always as great as we make it out to be. It seems counter-intuitive saying that multi-tasking isn’t a good thing. Culture values efficiency and achieving as much as possible within a short period of time. We usually don’t notice that multitasking can cause a reduction in quality as well as increase the time needed to accomplish a task. Additionally, our minds easily become distracted from a lack of full engagement.
Even simple things as listening to music while running, talking on the phone while driving, and eating while talking – these seemingly harmless distractions can take away more than we may give thought. While running, music can cause loss of a natural rhythm the body is trying to establish. Music effects adrenaline and can cause an early burnout. Talking on the phone while driving can be dangerous and doesn’t allow full conversational engagement. Eating while talking is the most common, and it’s quite easy to overeat when engulfed in a conversation.
When doing one thing at a time, even the seemingly mundane, it’s not only helpful in accomplish a task more effectively, but it also allows the mind to be relaxed for a bit. They say that best creative ideas come when your mind is doing activities that are mildly stimulating but easy enough to do without hard concentration. When the mind isn’t being divided up in two or three places at the same time, it’s easy to allow it to either unwind or entertain itself during a task.
Giving just one task our full attention allows us to see the important details involved. It’s better to avoid doing a task if we’re going to do a sloppy job. Focusing on one task prevents burnout and allows our minds to simply be present. It isn’t necessary to do as much as possible in order to be a useful person. We easily fool ourselves into thinking that working harder makes us better or more valuable people. However being busy doesn’t bring success, happiness, and value into a person’s life by association.
Actually, work should be fun and exciting. This is likely a highly disagreeable statement for many, because many people work jobs for which they are not suited. It does take courage, commitment, and perhaps some risk to get what one wants - and, there’s nothing wrong with failing. One failure doesn’t mean we are failures as people, it simply means that one method didn’t work out. We either change our direction or change or method of getting what we want. When we find out what that is, then we move forward, focusing on one step at a time.
For further related reading, please check out: Work Shouldn’t Feel Like Work.
