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Multi-tasking
Multi-tasking is doing several things at once. For example, you sit down in front of your computer to do some writing. As long as you're sitting at the keyboard, you might as well go ahead and check your email, listen to the radio, chat with whoever else is in the room, and talk on the phone.
Wow, just see how efficient you are because you are doing all those things at the same time. Maybe you could add some more, like eating breakfast.
The big problem with multi-tasking is that you are going to lose your focus. You're not going to be fully devoted to any one of the tasks because your attention is divided into too many directions. The results will be that none of things you are doing are going to be done as well as they might be, and in the long run you are probably not going to save any time. Is that what you want?
My recommendation: One thing at a time.
Focus is important. If you have something to write, then you want to be focused on the writing. The last thing you need is to have your attention pulled away in several other directions. You'll lose your train of thought, and your final product will be less than your best work.
If one of the multiple tasks is talking to someone else in the room, things just got worse. When we're in a conversation with another person, that person should be getting our full 100 percent attention. Just think of the times when you were talking with someone and it was obvious that her attention was divided between you and something else. I'll bet that didn't feel good. So don't do it to others. If someone walks in while you're doing something else, then you have a choice of dropping what you were doing to pay attention to this other human being, or telling her she'll need to wait until you are ready. She will appreciate it, and you will be better off.
Sometimes when I'm in the middle of writing a short article (like right now) I feel the urge to switch over to my email or to make some minor change to my web site or make a phone call. I really have to resist that urge and stay on task and stay focused on what I have decided I am doing right now. I'll get this piece of work done much faster and much better. And then I can move on to the next task and do it faster and better.
Of course, there are times when doing two things at once actually enhances each one of them. If you play some favorite music while you're meditating, then it could be that the meditating goes better and the music is more enjoyable. (For me, meditation goes better without the music. Each to his own.)
By the way, I don't recommend eating breakfast at the keyboard. One of the few things that can wreck a computer setup is to spill wet Grape Nuts on your keyboard.
How about you?
In the end, you have to make your own decision about multi-tasking. Is it for you?
You can easily run a little test to find out. First, decide on a specific period of time such one hour. Second, deliberately do multi-tasking for one hour. (Then take a little break.) Third, ruthlessly avoid multi-talking for one hour, and focus strictly on doing one thing at a time. Now sit back and compare the two hours. Compare them both from the point of view of pure productivity and from the standpoint of how enjoyable the hours were for you.
Ross Runkel, Post Office Box 1031, Salem, Oregon
97308-1031.
Phone 503-399-8028. Fax 503-566-8844. email Ross@LawMemo.Com
