Why we need to ditch multitasking in the office

In today's fast-paced world, it's common to see job descriptions that emphasise the need to be good at multitasking for corporate roles. Employers believe it's a vital skill that distinguishes top candidates. 

But let's get real about multitasking and its impact on our efficiency and focus.

Multitasking, by definition, means “the carrying out of two or more tasks at the same time by one person”. It might sound impressive, but let's take a closer look at how it truly affects us.

The Efficiency Myth

Many of us believe that doing multiple things at once makes us more efficient, but research suggests otherwise. The human mind isn’t designed for heavy-duty multitasking. Mental overload can often lead to exhaustion, burnout, and detrimental errors.

When we try to tackle numerous tasks simultaneously, it's like dividing our attention into small, inefficient pieces. This actually slows us down and makes us more prone to errors.

We learn and retain information better by repetition. When we aren’t fully engaged with a task, our cognitive abilities can overload. Meaning we’re less likely to encode information into long-term memory effectively. Whilst we might complete tasks in a shorter time, we’re less likely to remember and apply what we learned in the future - or learn from our mistakes.

Your Lack of Focus is Leading to Fatigue

Think about it – when you're multitasking, are you really giving your full attention to each task? 

Chances are we do our best work when we are fully ingrained in what we are doing and can actually see a task or project fully through. It’s mentally exhausting having to switch between multiple tasks, deadlines, and priorities all at once. The distraction of too many things going on at once will lead to poor-quality work output. There are days when it can feel like we have so much going on and by the end of it, we don’t actually know what we achieved - that’s because our focus wasn’t clear.

This is when the fatigue sets in.

The Productivity Killer

Multitasking isn't a secret productivity booster; it's a productivity killer. We may feel like because we are doing multiple things at once we feel more productive, but that’s only in the short-term. That’s not the case for the longer term.

Constantly switching between tasks reduces our overall output. Our brains need time to refocus each time we switch tasks, and that transition time adds up, eating into our work hours. In fact, research suggests that ineffective multitasking can rob 40% of your productive output in your working day.

The Better Alternative

So, what's the solution? 

1. Give One Task Your Full Attention

Instead of juggling a multitude of tasks, focus on one task at a time. Give it your undivided attention. Block out time in your calendar for extra accountability to focus only on this one task during that time.

2. Remove Distractions

If you get easily sucked into having to multitask, ensure you turn off your messaging notifications, get out of your emails, or put on a do not disturb. 

3. Reduce Mental Clutter

When you're single-tasking, you clear the mental clutter that comes with attempting to multitask. Your mind can fully engage with the task at hand, allowing you to delve deeper into the problem or project. 

4. Less Stress, More Satisfaction

Multitasking can be stressful as you are constantly trying to keep up with everything simultaneously. Single-tasking promotes a sense of accomplishment and reduces stress because you complete tasks more efficiently.

While multitasking can seem like a prized skill that all employers seek, more often than not it can lead to decreased efficiency, a lack of focus, and lower-quality work output.

I challenge you to consider your stance on promoting multitasking in business, what goals could be accomplished if we just put all our focus into getting it done?