Multi-tasking: Impossible to do properly, or important if you want to get on?

Most arguments centre around multi-tasking and gender: As in most blokes aren’t capable and most women can and do. Well rather than get embroiled in a debate on the issue, there are some important aspects to consider when trying to do more than one thing at any one time.

1.    Focus on the most important thing you can do now, and then do it. Now before you say, but that has nothing to do with multi-tasking – in fact it’s the polar opposite, let me say I do agree with you. But and here is the thing.
2.    Sometimes we are not able to get on and complete a task item because something or someone has to do their bit first. But rather than wait around for that to resolve itself, you can get on and do what YOU can do. So it has everything to do with multi-tasking.

When considering what you have to do versus what you want to do, consider the next set of variables. Is what you are doing now taking you towards your goals or away from them?

Actually I think I may have gotten away from myself, especially for the new readers of the Daily Dose, by the way, welcome to all those who have joined us recently, it is wonderful to have you with us.

First of all you need to have determined what it is that is on your goal list. So please do me a favour and get out that scrappy piece of paper and have a good look at those items that are listed.

Most people will have a list of work related goals and tasks, and a bigger set of personal goals. By the way if it’s the other way around, please remember “The graveyards are full of indispensable men” – I think it was Napoleon who said it, or it might have been Jimi Hendrix, but really who said it didn’t matter, the fact is your goals have to be balanced. If you’re spending all your time at work, then how on earth are you going to fit those personal goals into your already packed day?

OK I can hear the muttering from here, what has this got to do with multi-tasking? Well consider this. If you don’t know what goals you want to achieve, then you can fill your day with anything you like and you can end the day having achieved – something, some of which may be worthwhile. But if you have a clear understanding of what it is you say you want to achieve today, tomorrow, next month and in the next 5 years, then each minute task can take you a little closer to achieving those things.

Which is where multi-tasking comes into play. If you are being stalled in one area because you can’t think what that next step should be, then pick up one of your other goal items and work on that one instead. Move two goals forward rather than just one.

For instance. Your major goal in life may be to pay off your mortgage. Now are your day-to-day actions taking you towards that goal or away from them? Add a second shorter term goal – lose weight and get fit and healthy. Well cut out the morning coffee on the way to work (add it up the cost is phenomenal), save the booze for special occasions, and take your lunch with you to work.

OK that may be a bit of a banal example, so how about setting up your own business. In deciding what business you want to set up, you will have a list of people you need to speak to. As you leave messages for one person (because you can almost guarantee they won’t be at their desk waiting for your call), you can organise your list of suppliers, or speak to the bank manager, or visit suitable locations for your enterprise.

Or how about those times you are waiting in a queue, or for the kettle to boil. Each minute opportunity can be used to make notes, take or make phone calls, write a letter to your mother. If you work from home, you can cook dinner whilst adding a load of laundry to the machine at the same time as the computer is booting (well you can if you run a slow computer like mine).

Every day we have lots of opportunities to multi-task our projects and goals, but it starts with knowing what it is we want to achieve. The rest then becomes a whole lot easier.

(MMM1)