Multitasking is Often Counterproductive – Finding Balance and Focus PART ONE
There was a time, believe it or not, when the very word “multitasking” did not exist. I’m not saying that the concept didn’t exist – there have always been busy parents who were folding laundry with one hand and reading their kids a book with the other – all while balancing their budget and reading the mail. And I’m sure there were business people devising marketing plans in their heads while working on the latest project or due date. But I think, quite frankly, that multitasking wasn’t always spoon fed to us at every turn. You can hardly surf the web or pass a magazine stand now that doesn’t tell every parent how to prepare meals in under ten minutes or shout to all of us how to exercise WHILE working at our desks. Some of this is great and very necessary, no doubt. But there is a downside, and the downside of multitasking is FOCUS.
I can honestly attest that there is a magic that happens when one is able to shut off the outside world and focus on the task at hand – and I don’t mean for five minutes. I mean for hours. I’m certain that every writer, artist, parent, entrepreneur – well, everyone – would agree getting more done in less time is necessary in this busy world. But getting ONE thing accomplished, without distraction, from the seeds of inception to completion – that can create pure magic.
Quentin Tarrantino was recently interviewed, and eventually they got to the question of marriage. The director began to laugh, sharing that his work was all encompassing, and the idea of having to focus on a family just wouldn’t work – that his work was too selfish and too focused. So what are we to do? Are we to place ourselves into solitude, like Tarrantino, and create great work at the cost of families and relationships? Or are we to surrender to total chaos as we try to “have it all” and squeeze 48 hours into every 24? Surely there has to be a better answer, and like most things the answer comes in one simple word: balance.
The real trick, of course, comes in creating that balance. Check out part two of my blog on Monday to get the 1-2-3 on building balance and joy AND still getting all (or most) of your tasks accomplished.
To your continued success, Dave Churchville
dave@myclientspot.com
ClientSpot by ExtremePlanner Software
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