Here’s a hard truth: humans cannot multitask—we task switch—and if we task switch, we're less productive, more anxious, and more mistake-prone.
Switching tasks drains our brains.
Still, your workday is filled with demands and interruptions. It’s hard to do one thing at a time—even if you know you’re more relaxed and creative when you do so.
Yet single-tasking can be doable!
Look at your schedule for the day. Choose the most important task to be completed.
Block off time to work on that one task. Close your office door, shut down email and phone, or go to an unoccupied conference room.
Set a timer for 45 minutes. You’ll get distracted (only because you’re used to being interrupted) but keep coming back to your one task. Enjoy the space to reflect, create, and focus.
When the timer goes off, take a break. (Don’t push too hard when forming a new habit.)
One thing at a time for 45 minutes a day. That’s the practice.
Give it a try and see what happens.
