Singletasking summary

From an evolutionary perspective, multitasking is not part of our programming. Rather, our hunter-gatherer ancestors had to be alert and aware, not lost in thought, when searching for food. After all, it’s hard to see the saber-toothed tiger lurking in the bushes when your head’s in the clouds.

Not only is it contrary to our evolutionary programming, multitasking can also damage the brain. When you multitask too much, constant overstimulation and the stress associated with it cause the gray matter of your prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain responsible for complex thinking – to shrink.

We’ve all had the experience of meeting someone for the first time and then immediately forgetting their name. Though it might not seem like it at the time, these kinds of faux pas can be caused by multitasking.

Multitasking doesn’t necessarily mean a conscious effort to engage in numerous activities at the same time. It could be as simple as thinking about things other than the immediate task at hand.

In our last blink, we talked about some ways to fight the tendency to multitask. In this blink, we’ll get into some of the tricks that will help you actively singletask.

One such trick is the cluster tasking technique, which combines similar activities and tasks into a single group in order to help you work more effectively.

Sometimes, when you’re having a conversation with someone, it seems as if they’re not really paying attention and their thoughts are elsewhere. It never feels good to be in that position – it’s uncomfortable, and it makes you feel less valued. You don’t want to be that person, and singletasking can help.

Not only does singletasking improve your productivity at work, it also helps you further develop your social skills, empowering you to develop better, deeper connections with the people in your life.

“Less is more” is a maxim that we’ve all heard countless times. Yet, many workaholics set aside this valuable advice and rack up overtime at the office. Bad idea.

Singletasking is most effective when combined with regular breaks. The type and length of these breaks will differ depending on the type of work you do. For instance, if you have a desk job, then a nice stroll outside could do the trick. If you’re a construction worker, sitting down for a moment’s rest would help.

As you’ve seen, singletasking improves your productivity, your relationships and even your self-awareness. But, as research has shown, perhaps the greatest benefit of singletasking is the effect that it has on overall happiness and fulfillment.

In a recent Harvard study involving over 2,000 participants, researchers found people are much happier when they’re highly engaged in a single task.