You know those days where you must prepare a balance sheet while reconciling business accounts while running payroll for your business? That’s multi-tasking. While it’s long been thought of as the best way to get things done, the truth is it isn’t.
In fact, multi-tasking can actually hamper your performance and results in the long run. Let’s take the classic example of walking and chewing gum. Both are relatively simple tasks for most of us. They each use a different part of the brain and can be done without much thought, barring physical or cognitive limitations.
What about tasks that involve the same part of our brain, such as the bookkeeping nightmare mentioned above?
Multi-tasking Is Overrated
We have bad news for you: you won’t get the results you’re hoping to achieve. According to Gloria Mark, a psychology professor at the University of California Irvine multi-tasking can wear you down, impact your concentration, and stress you out. While she agrees that we can learn to become better at multi-tasking, it’s not sustainable in the long run.
Simply put, humans aren’t wired for it very well, even if a recent study documented that workers switch activities on an average of every three minutes. While humans are good at balancing two tasks that utilize unrelated physical and mental resources, we don’t do as well when the tasks involve using similar resources.
While our brains become adept at balancing activities that are routine and fairly simple, like walking and carrying on a conversation, frantic multi-tasking and switching between tasks throughout the day won’t yield the results you’re looking for.
Bad news if you’re a business owner who’s accustomed to wearing many hats throughout the day. After all, you want everything done quickly and done well.
One Solution to Multi-Tasking Madness
We can help. We’ll help you take one or more of those tasks off your plate so you can focus on what you love doing the most for your business. You’ll be matched with a skilled Virtual Assistant or team that will help your business flourish.
Learn more by following us on Twitter or Facebook. Better yet, contact us today to get started, and how focused your life can be without endless multi-tasking.
