The Art of Multi-tasking

Everyone that I know, including myself have been taught that being able to juggle lots of tasks mean that you are the best worker. It all started one day while attending a management meeting — sending a quick email or text message while a colleague was presenting, checking my Instagram account in the middle of a phone call or looking at Facebook during lunch with a business partner. Even checking emails in bed or posting on social media when I am so sleepy my eyes are crossed. Has any of these things happened to you?

One morning last week I got a wakeup call that gave me good reason to pause. My toothbrush is set up to alert me when to brush a different section of the teeth in my mouth. While trying to brush, I found myself looking at social media sites on my phone, glancing at my calendar to see what meetings I had for the day and week, jotting notes down for a marketing meeting with a client, thinking about what food I would have for breakfast, would I have an espresso or a cafe mocha, choosing an outfit, reviewing my media presentation, and trying to confirm dinner reservations. Like a bolt of lightening, it hit me that I had become a multi-tasking idiot with lots of balls in the air that were starting to fall on my head. That’s when I realised the need to slow down is imperative for survival.

Multi-tasking seems like a great way to get a lot done at once. But research…