Are you checking your emails on your phone, whilst also half-listening to a conversation and trying to plan tonight’s dinner?
Honestly – how many things are you trying to do at the same time right now?
Something I heard on a podcast the other day that really struck a chord with me:
“Multitasking” is for computers, not our brains.
Our brains can’t do it.
If you think you’re multitasking, what you’re actually doing is making your brain switch between tasks constantly.
That means there’s some lag time in between as it switches from the email to the conversation to the dinner planning.
It seems more efficient, but it’s actually less efficient
But this is not an email about being more efficient anyway
It’s an email about bringing more Mental Sunshine into your day.
How does not multitasking make you happier, you might be thinking.
Well, first of all, if you’re more efficient with your time, you’ve more time to do the fun things in life.
But also: trying to multitask puts stress on your brain that it really doesn’t need.
It can create a constant state of low-level anxiety where your brain is constantly switching between tasks.
It can also contribute to a shorter attention span, where our brains get used to switching from one thing to the next every few minutes or even seconds
Before we know it, we’re finding it really hard to hold our focus in one place for any amount of time.
So here’s my challenge to you today:
First of all, make a point of noticing every time you’re trying to multitask.
Checking emails whilst holding a conversation or listening to a podcast
Driving to work whilst listening to an audiobook
Planning tonight’s dinner whilst tidying the living room
Whatever it is, just notice that you’re doing it.
The next step – pick just one of those things, and try to separate it out.
Just have a go at doing one thing at a time.
Try and hold your focus on what you’re doing.
You will inevitably catch yourself wandering off in your head
Or reaching for your phone
This is the time to gently remind yourself: I was doing that one thing over there, and nothing else.
Can you do it?
Does it feel more challenging than perhaps it should?
Can you keep doing it?
I usually find when I make up my mind to do this, that it feels a bit like letting my brain take a holiday.
If I focus on just one thing at a time, my brain can relax into that, without having to try and focus elsewhere too.
Sometimes, I even get into a bit of a flow state with that one task – and that feels brilliant.
If you try it, let me know how you get on!