Why You Should Stop Multi-Tasking

Do you pride yourself on being a rockstar at multi-tasking?

You’re probably saying YEAAA and there’s no other way, right? You’ve got a household, family, work, and/ or school to take care of…of course you need to be efficient with your time. But what if I had bad news…multi-tasking and switching between tasks ISN’T all what it is cracked up to be.

Have you ever … 

●    Attended a virtual meeting while you scrolled your phone for the latest headlines (or, ahem, checked your social media notifications, email etc?)
●    Juggled two work projects at the exact same time because you thought you could do them in half the time?
●    Listened to a training/course/book while folding the laundry, cooking a meal, and/or caring for a family member?
●    Checked your email or phone several times in the middle of a project?

It might seem like you’re streamlining your to-do list by tackling several things at once, but you can actually be cluttering your brain.  This can lead to more mistakes, retaining less info, and actually changing how your brain works (not for the better). In fact, multitasking on projects that require a lot of thought can make your IQ score dip the same way it does for people who stay up all night! 

Check this out: in one study, men who multitasked had their IQ drop 15 points … so that their score was the same as an average 8-year-old child. That means you are LESS focused, have less mental clarity, are less productive and it takes LONGER for you to re-focus on the original task you were doing.

Long term this means it will take you LONGER, might lead to more mistakes & less “quality” results, and add more stress…ugh, exactly what we don’t want! 

People who felt stressed while multitasking ate more unhealthy snacks, according to researchers. This isn’t surprising, since stress is linked to food cravings!

So to Recap: Multi-tasking seems more productive & beneficial, but it is actually decreasing your focus, clarity, energy and productivity. It can increase stress, brain fog, cravings, and make you feel MORE exhausted in the long run.

So, what is the solution? STOP trying to “do all the things” at once! 

FOCUS ON ONE TASK: set a timer for a specific block of time such as 15-30 min. Then, take a mini 2-5 minute “intermission” break, and set the timer again for another period of focus.

Get in the FLOW: Have you ever started a task or project, then looked at the clock and realize hours have gone without realizing it? You just felt so “in the zone?” This is having a FLOW state of mind, where your mind is fully immersed into a certain activity or state. Sounds interesting? Check out more about it HERE.

Habit Stacking

This is a technique where you pair a NEW behavior/habit you want to implement with an existing one. When it comes to habits, we want to keep them SIMPLE, EASY and DIRECT. Here are some examples:

Increasing your Water Intake:

• You drink a glass of water as you brew your coffee or tea.
• You have a glass of water as you sit down before every meal.

Increasing your Physical Activity:

• You take a walk every morning before breakfast and after dinner.
• Every time you go to the bathroom, you do stretches, jumping jacks or squats.

Time Blocking

This is a technique used to increase productivity and create structure within your routine. This can work for anyone, whether you’re a working professional, student, mom, etc.! As a business owner, this has been one of the most important tactics I use for optimal time management and efficiency.

Time Blocking is what it sounds like: You designate specific blocks of time to doing certain things. This is also for those who struggle with consistency of healthy habits (like exercise or food prep), because it forces you to set aside time to “do the hard things!” that you might have otherwise procrastinated on!

CLICK HERE to read more about Habit Stacking & Time Blocking.

As always, I’m here to help!

Are you feeling STRESSED and overwhelmed? Have you tried “all the things” but with little success?Looking to balance your hormones with lifestyle?

If you’re looking for structure, accountability and support, then I’m here to help! I work with clients 1:1 & we come up with a sustainable plan that gets you RESULTS and the CONFIDENCE you deserve. 

Contact me below with any questions you have, or to schedule a complimentary consultation with me. I’d love to chat with you on your goals & come up with a personalized plan and steps to get there! 

CONTACT ME