What is Making Us 40% Less Productive?
Productivity is doing more with less. Many of us, however, with the same less, try accomplishing even more tasks. How? Through multitasking! How is it affecting us? The loss of productivity!
Can we multitask? An article mentions only 2.5% of us can truly multitask.
We think we are multitaskers. However, what most of us are doing is simply switching between the tasks. The shifting of focus between the tasks is known as task switching.
The keyword: focus. To be focussed on one task at a time.
How are we losing?
Task switching makes us prone to making more mistakes.
In a series of experiments, while attempting multitasking, participants displayed reduced efficiency at all the tasks they tried accomplishing. A human brain can focus only on one task at a time.
Multitasking can drop productivity up to 40%, especially when working with complex or new tasks, says a study.
A BBC article mentions how people distracted from emails or texts saw their IQ falling by as much as 10 points. What does this mean? The ten-point IQ fall has the same effect on the mind as losing a night’s sleep.
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The message is straightforward. Minimize multitasking!
Try reducing the urges; to check and reply to texts and emails. Allot a timeslot.
All of us make mistakes! Realize it and learn from mistakes.
Do not be afraid to say no.
Having back-to-back appointments to form a block of meetings could be more efficient.
Learn to lessen the echoing of multitasking thoughts.
Focusing on the things that matter most and doing them well tends to be a better way.
