Switchtasking—my word for multitasking—is when you attempt to do two active tasks simultaneously, which isn’t possible for our brain to do. What really happens is switching back and forth rapidly. This carries the high costs of lower quality work, higher levels of stress, and more time wasted. It’s highly unproductive and inefficient. Here’s a common example of misusing the myth of multitasking:
“Now hiring! Candidate must be good at multitasking!”
Ugh. I cringe every time I see this in a job description or hiring ad. Why? It’s like saying, “Candidate must be good at making mistakes and being distracted all the time.”
Here’s a better line for your job post: “Candidate must be a focused and efficient worker that doesn’t multitask.”
When’s the last time you attempted to switchtask? How’d it go?
Let’s set some personal goals to stop multitasking and learn how to focus better instead!
Dave’s releasing a second edition of his popular book, The Myth of Multitasking, on January 19th, 2021. Pre-order your copy today at multitaskbook.com and learn how to be productive, how to focus better, reaching personal goals, setting measurable goals, and so much more!
