Why Multitasking Is Holding You Back

Stop multitasking! I know. I’m so guilty of this. Most of us are. But here’s why I am working towards stopping (despite the two monitors, office phone, iPhone and iPad all on my desk behind me..hey, I’m a work in progress).

Many of us pride ourselves on our ability to multitask.  The capacity to handle multiple different processes and tasks simultaneously has long been prized in our field of medicine. In fact, most women are expert at it – juggling so many balls in the air – work, family, kids, passion projects.

And, once you become a mother, this skill gets taken to a next level.

I used to be so proud that I could easily hop from one task to another, like multi-tasking was my super power.

But, it’s not the most efficient or effective way to get tasks done. Our brains aren’t meant to multi-task. Your brain can only focus well on one task at a time. When faced with attempting to perform two or more tasks at the same time, it becomes less efficient.

So, instead I now employ methods of serial tasking.  Concentrating on one task at a time until it’s complete. I avoid task switching and context switching.  And, my productivity has increased drastically in my practice and at home.

Sometimes practice management or study tips aren’t always about how to examine the metrics of your practice or some new method of studying. Sometimes, it’s about examining what makes YOU more effective.