Single tasking or multi tasking?

[bbdream8]

Single tasking or multi tasking?

In recent times, multi tasking has been the in thing and being able to multi task is a trait where employers look out for. Employers look out for people who are able to multi task because it gives the impression that people who multi task are able to complete more task and their greater productivity will help to increase the company's bottom line.

The question is, is it really true that people who multi task are able to complete more tasks and thus termed more productive?

Multi Tasking

Being able to multi task is to be able to juggle doing several things at once without losing focus and I found that I am not one who is able to multi task and get more things done.

By multi tasking, I am unable give all my focus onto the task I am currently doing and that results in a longer time to complete my task and also affecting the quality of it.

When this happen, I believe that multi tasking does not contribute one bit to increasing productivity.

Single tasking - The forgotten philosophy

The definition of single tasking is doing one thing at a time and this is a way that helps people to get more things done because of how efficient this system is.

By single tasking, we are able to put in all our focus on one task that make us complete it in a shorter time and this also result in a better quality work.

Being able to hand out a better quality piece of work and also in a shorter time is definitely a trait of a person with great productivity.

So....

Does multi tasking help to increase our productivity compared to single tasking?

I do not think that multi tasking is the way to go if productivity is concerned. I have no doubts that multi tasking is needed in our daily life, such as listening to your favorite songs on your mp3 player and walking at the same time but when it comes to serious work, I believe single tasking is the way to go.

Let me give you an example; is it easier to juggle 10 balls or a single ball?

No doubt that juggling a single ball is easier compared to juggling 10 balls at once because you are able to give all your concentration on that single ball to ensure that the juggling will go smoothly.

What if you were juggling 10 balls at once instead? This time your concentration is spread thin because you got to keep your eye on all 10 of the balls which make the task much harder.

I had written 2 more extensive articles on single tasking and multi tasking which you can read it for more info.

So my question for today is, what do you think work best for you? Single tasking or multi tasking and do you think that the method you prefer help you to increase your productivity.

Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger

[magi13]

Good reminder, especially for men in general. Women on the other hand are good multi taskers.

[Bleicke]

Originally Posted by magi13

Good reminder, especially for men in general. Women on the other hand are good multi taskers.

Did you try that out?

My dad says: Women are not good multitaskers. The can do three different things at the same time and get nothing done.

His theory is that men realize they can't multitask. Women can't do it either, but they don't realize that.

[magi13]

Originally Posted by Bleicke

Did you try that out?

My dad says: Women are not good multitaskers. The can do three different things at the same time and get nothing done.

His theory is that men realize they can't multitask. Women can't do it either, but they don't realize that.

I'm surrounded by women since i was in grade school and 90% of them multi tasked all the time with very very good results in their projects and everything else.

so i'm basing my answer on my 14 years of experience (conscious). But i know 20% of the guys I work with multi task well.

But, generally speaking it's best to do things one at a time to ensure the best outcome no matter what it is. (be it a girl or a boy who does the work)

This is best said by the saying, you can't hit two birds with one stone, or chasing to rabbits while hunting and you'll catch none.

[Kindred]

I find multitasking terribly inefficient in terms of time usage. Working on tasks in parallel requires switching, and switching costs time. On top of that, every time I switch tasks I have to recall everything I was doing to get back into my flow. Multitasking doesn't boost working speed either. It just spreads out work across several tasks.

That's not to say multitasking is all bad. There are times when multitasking is useful too. For example, when I'm debugging programs, I sometimes have to test a program for problems and reprogram it at the same time step-by-step. Trying to fix all the bugs at once through single-tasking is likely to introduce unforeseen bugs and cause more problems than it fixes.

I say it depends on what you're doing.

[Eric Roosevelt]

In my experience it's best to focus on what you're doing, but try to remain flexible in the face of new information. However, it's been said many times that the sign of genius is being able to hold many contradictory thoughts in your head at the same time. That may or may not be the type of multi-tasking you're reffering to, but it's a useful skill at the very least.

[TreyBaird]

As far as the question of whether women are better multi-taskers than men, I'm not so sure. I think that women are more in touch with their subconcious mind and their muscle memory more so than men are. I think that for the most part, women tend to go on auto-pilot more than men. With this in mind, a woman might multi-task more often, and think less about doing it than a man would. Now, someone who makes a concious effort to be a good multi-tasker, whether they be male or female, might possess the ability to get good at it.

As for whether or not multi-tasking is more efficient than single-tasking, it really depends on how you define it. I have found that I am most productive when I focus at a single task at a time, but give myself permission to switch tasks if my energy level fizzles, or if I get bored with it. I like to keep a notepad in front of me, and keep track of what I have accomplished, so I am able to do this.

The idea is that if you are single-tasking until the job is done, you may not be doing a very efficient job. You may need a fresher mindset, or a break from it.

[bbdream8]

Originally Posted by magi13

Good reminder, especially for men in general. Women on the other hand are good multi taskers.

Hi magi,

I noticed that too! I got one question over here, is it possible that woman can concentrate on work when they are multi tasking or their multi tasking ability is only limited to daily activities? I noticed that woman are great at multi tasking in daily activities but I do not know does that apply to work.

Originally Posted by Kindred

I find multitasking terribly inefficient in terms of time usage. Working on tasks in parallel requires switching, and switching costs time. On top of that, every time I switch tasks I have to recall everything I was doing to get back into my flow. Multitasking doesn't boost working speed either. It just spreads out work across several tasks.

That's not to say multitasking is all bad. There are times when multitasking is useful too. For example, when I'm debugging programs, I sometimes have to test a program for problems and reprogram it at the same time step-by-step. Trying to fix all the bugs at once through single-tasking is likely to introduce unforeseen bugs and cause more problems than it fixes.

I say it depends on what you're doing.

Hi Kindred,

Got to agree with you on this point. I will choose which approach to use in different scenarios but whenever I am working on work that requires concentration, single tasking is the way to go.

Originally Posted by Eric Roosevelt

In my experience it's best to focus on what you're doing, but try to remain flexible in the face of new information. However, it's been said many times that the sign of genius is being able to hold many contradictory thoughts in your head at the same time. That may or may not be the type of multi-tasking you're reffering to, but it's a useful skill at the very least.

Hi Eric,

I do prefer with the approach of focusing on what I am doing in the present. That approach help me to get more things done.

Originally Posted by TreyBaird

As far as the question of whether women are better multi-taskers than men, I'm not so sure. I think that women are more in touch with their subconcious mind and their muscle memory more so than men are. I think that for the most part, women tend to go on auto-pilot more than men. With this in mind, a woman might multi-task more often, and think less about doing it than a man would. Now, someone who makes a concious effort to be a good multi-tasker, whether they be male or female, might possess the ability to get good at it.

As for whether or not multi-tasking is more efficient than single-tasking, it really depends on how you define it. I have found that I am most productive when I focus at a single task at a time, but give myself permission to switch tasks if my energy level fizzles, or if I get bored with it. I like to keep a notepad in front of me, and keep track of what I have accomplished, so I am able to do this.

The idea is that if you are single-tasking until the job is done, you may not be doing a very efficient job. You may need a fresher mindset, or a break from it.

Hi Trey,

Thanks for the point and taking a break will definitely help to refresh the mind and thus resulting in a better quality work. There is no point in sawing a tree with a blunt saw. Sharpening the saw will help to make us more efficient.

Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger

[redhed72]

Not sure about the rest of you, but my workplace doesn't allow the luxury of single tasking. At any given moment, I'm answering at least one email, answering instant communications, have someone stopping at my desk to ask a question, answering the phone ALL while trying to manage my own workload as well.

I handle it better some days than others, but multi-tasking is a requirement to survive around here.

At home, think about cooking a meal. That requires multi-tasking. If you cooked the meat till it was done, then cooked the vegetable, then prepped the fruit, then set the table, the first things you cooked would be cold and your family would be unhappy!! :-)

[simonr]

Your environment may or may not require multi-tasking but that doens't make it a good thing..... Perhaps your organisation has lost its way a little?

For example, I'm pretty convinced by the evidence suggesting turning off your emails system except for defined times each day (morning, lunch, afternoon) and handling routine emails in batchs is a good idea.

Simon

[fionamydear]

really very good topic........... even I think about it a lot...............

I use to follow single tasking when I was a kid, I started feeling bored ,
so I have switched to multi tasking it is working for me,


I support Multi tasking because your mind needs refreshment and it will accept new changes , if you follow a regular routine your mind will get tired and bored , its better to be more dynamic than static...........

[this is fun]

It depends on what I'm doing. For some things I get better results if I'm single tasking, but then again, sometimes multi tasking works better. You should experiment and find out what works best for you.

Although, if we talk about percentage, I'd say 70-80 % of the time multi tasking is a better choice for me.

[tsjechov]

No doubt that juggling a single ball is easier compared to juggling 10 balls at once because you are able to give all your concentration on that single ball to ensure that the juggling will go smoothly.

What if you were juggling 10 balls at once instead? This time your concentration is spread thin because you got to keep your eye on all 10 of the balls which make the task much harder.

Juggling 10 balls is only a single-task-activity. I can juggle and although juggling 4 balls is more difficult to learn as using 1 ball... juggling 4 balls is not multitasking! When you have learned it, it is just as 'demanding' as jugling one. You have only one concentration and that is on the juggling. Not on the balls.

So this is not a good example to use.

[tsjechov]

And beiing a multi-tasker by nature, which can be a blessing or a curse, i find that i am much more productive if i handle one thing at a time very intensely and very good. I try to be a singletasker
Scientific research also proved that singletasking is always more productive than multitasking.

[jakehussie]

It actually depends on the person whether multi-tasking works well for him or her or not since some may find doing more things at the same time more difficult.

[findinginspiration]

In order for me to be efficient I first have to develop an understanding of what my mulitple tasks are and what they require of me. So organization is first - then single tasking each item is how I am most efficient.

It's so easy to lose momentum on a task or project if you are continuously interrupted by something else - like another task. A great example tends to be answering each email as you receive it. I am much more productive if I discipline myself to just check my emails once an hour and be done with it.

Single-tasking is for me!