How To Quit Multitasking And Boost Your Productivity - 4 minutes read
By Stephanie Wells, the founder of Formidable Forms, a drag drop form builder for WordPress that empowers freelancers to create form-based solutions.
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Do you want to quit the bad habit of multitasking but aren’t sure where to start?
Perhaps you find yourself trying to prepare lunch, send emails and schedule meetings all at once. Or you try to at least. But perhaps what you've found is that when you multitask, you’re constantly distracted by the different tasks. A study found that only 2.5% of people multitask successfully, which leaves a lot of room for improvement.
By focusing your attention on one task at a time, it’s easier to do quality work and waste less time. Concentrating on one thing allows you to excel at that task and finish it quicker than if you lump it with other things on your to-do list.
If you want to stop the bad habit of multitasking and get more accomplished, here are a few tips to help you get started:
Plan Your Time
You don’t need to have every single minute planned, but when you follow a routine of some sort, you give yourself the space you need to complete your tasks without feeling overwhelmed.
Planning your time according to what you need to get done can help you organize your days so you’re more productive. And when you organize your time, it’s easier to work toward your goals and go from step A to step B.
Keep a planner or use a calendar to keep track of your to-do list and create a system for your week. You can accomplish more when you follow a schedule because it forces you to work with the time you have and use it wisely.
Eliminate Distractions
It’s hard enough to multitask, but when you throw in distractions, it becomes an even bigger issue. Not only are you trying to concentrate on what’s in front of you, but then you have diversions that add to your stress and anxiety.
It’s easier to finish your tasks when you don’t have a bunch of distractions dividing your attention. Televisions and phones are the primary sources of distraction for many people, especially when working from home. So it’s important to eliminate them so you can finish your work on time and feel good about it.
Put your phone in another room, turn off the television and dedicate yourself to your tasks. It can be difficult to let go at first, but once you realize how much you’re able to accomplish without the extra fluff, it’ll be even harder to go back.
Learn To Say No
If you often feel the pressure to give in to everyone’s requests and take on more responsibilities than you’re used to, this can easily lead to burnout. Not only that, but putting other's needs before your own can reduce your quality of life and mental health.
To prevent burnout, and the need for multitasking, learn how to say no. If you don’t have room in your schedule to take on an extra project or fill in for a colleague, be honest with yourself about it. You don’t need to be the hero who does more than anyone else, especially at the cost of your well-being.
Work In A Clean Space
When you work in a messy space, it can be difficult to focus on what’s in front of you. Operating in a tidy environment can make all the difference in how you work and your ability to work smarter instead of harder.
It’s important to declutter your workspace to create a positive, healthy environment that makes you feel calm and at ease. If you’re stressed about the condition you’re working in, it can often hinder you from achieving your goals and crossing off your tasks.
Along with tidying up your workspace, you can also add personality to spice it up. The more comfortable you feel in this space, the easier it’ll be to get things done. When you love the environment you’re in, you can view it in a positive light and feel motivated to finish what you started.
Back To You
If you struggle to keep up with your tasks and want to quit multitasking, start with these simple tips. It’s easier said than done, but with consistency, anyone can create healthier habits that lead to a better quality of life. How will you quit multitasking for good?
Source: Forbes
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