Comments on: Reversing the Multitasking Impulse http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/01/reversing-the-multitasking-impulse/ Thinking beyond productivity Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:44:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Snapping out of the Work Trance http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/01/reversing-the-multitasking-impulse/#comment-2121 Snapping out of the Work Trance Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:03:20 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=442#comment-2121 [...] to maintain longer intervals of focus (see the “Developing deep focus” section of Reversing the Multitasking Impulse), or by staging pattern interrupts. Here are some ways to break the [...] [...] to maintain longer intervals of focus (see the “Developing deep focus” section of Reversing the Multitasking Impulse), or by staging pattern interrupts. Here are some ways to break the [...]

]]> By: The Multitasking Checklist http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/01/reversing-the-multitasking-impulse/#comment-1929 The Multitasking Checklist Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:23:36 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=442#comment-1929 [...] Reversing the Multitasking Impulse, I focused on multitasking as a problem. Multitasking isn’t inherently counterproductive, but [...] [...] Reversing the Multitasking Impulse, I focused on multitasking as a problem. Multitasking isn’t inherently counterproductive, but [...]

]]> By: DanGTD http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/01/reversing-the-multitasking-impulse/#comment-1853 DanGTD Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:04:01 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=442#comment-1853 Great post. It's very hard for the majority of people to focus on one thing only, or to clear their mind completely. Your tip to start with 10 minutes a day is excelent. Even 10 minutes of that exercise is hard. But you should gradually raise the bar to ... let's say 90 minutes. Only after 15-20 minutes of focused work you get in that state named "The Zone", or "Flow", total engagement or involvement. Great post.
It’s very hard for the majority of people to focus on one thing only, or to clear their mind completely. Your tip to start with 10 minutes a day is excelent. Even 10 minutes of that exercise is hard. But you should gradually raise the bar to … let’s say 90 minutes. Only after 15-20 minutes of focused work you get in that state named “The Zone”, or “Flow”, total engagement or involvement.

]]> By: Andre http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/01/reversing-the-multitasking-impulse/#comment-1596 Andre Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:59:25 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=442#comment-1596 <b>@Vered:</b> My stock solution is to automatically write down any thought that's unrelated to what I'm doing at the moment, then process or act on it immediately I finish the current task. <b>@Intermediate_Noob:</b> If I had to walk around a facility throughout the day, I'd keep as little gear on me as possible. I would fold a letter-size sheet of paper into thirds, with one column labeled <b>@Computer</b>, another labeled <b>@Office</b> (for all work-related tasks that don't involve a computer), and another labeled <b>In</b> for collection. If something occurs to you that you can't act on in the moment, write it in the <b>In</b> column. If you have access to a computer and time to do a computer-related task, work off your <b>@Computer</b> list. Otherwise work off your <b>@Office</b> list. If you get interrupted and are called away, write down the interrupted task in your In column and circle it, denoting it as the task you need to return to once the interruption is handled. Once you return to and complete the interrupted task, cross it off in the <b>In</b> column and the corresponding context list. @Vered: My stock solution is to automatically write down any thought that’s unrelated to what I’m doing at the moment, then process or act on it immediately I finish the current task.

@Intermediate_Noob: If I had to walk around a facility throughout the day, I’d keep as little gear on me as possible. I would fold a letter-size sheet of paper into thirds, with one column labeled @Computer, another labeled @Office (for all work-related tasks that don’t involve a computer), and another labeled In for collection.

If something occurs to you that you can’t act on in the moment, write it in the In column. If you have access to a computer and time to do a computer-related task, work off your @Computer list. Otherwise work off your @Office list.

If you get interrupted and are called away, write down the interrupted task in your In column and circle it, denoting it as the task you need to return to once the interruption is handled. Once you return to and complete the interrupted task, cross it off in the In column and the corresponding context list.

]]> By: Intermediate_Noob http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/01/reversing-the-multitasking-impulse/#comment-1586 Intermediate_Noob Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:45:10 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=442#comment-1586 How does one break of multitasking when it has been ingrained for so long? I must have more than one "iron in the fire" so to speak because my job forces me to move to different work spaces throughout the day. I keep a pad and paper and lists of everything and try to pick up this or that task as I move from workspace to workspace. Sometimes I have a computer where I can complete a document or spreadsheet, but other times I do not. I find that if I do not have multiple tasks ready to go I am not productive when I have to move. Unfortunately, the environment dictates this movement and I cannot change it. Deep focus sounds great, but is hard to put into place when your work environment is not conducive to it. Heck, it makes it difficult to do much of anything! How does one break of multitasking when it has been ingrained for so long? I must have more than one “iron in the fire” so to speak because my job forces me to move to different work spaces throughout the day. I keep a pad and paper and lists of everything and try to pick up this or that task as I move from workspace to workspace. Sometimes I have a computer where I can complete a document or spreadsheet, but other times I do not.

I find that if I do not have multiple tasks ready to go I am not productive when I have to move. Unfortunately, the environment dictates this movement and I cannot change it. Deep focus sounds great, but is hard to put into place when your work environment is not conducive to it. Heck, it makes it difficult to do much of anything!

]]> By: Vered - MomGrind http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/01/reversing-the-multitasking-impulse/#comment-1548 Vered - MomGrind Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:14:20 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=442#comment-1548 I have read that multitasking is not efficient. But it feels almost like an addiction. I'm not sure I can force my brain to slow down and focus on just one task. I think I have grown accustomed to the over-stimulation of multitasking. I have read that multitasking is not efficient. But it feels almost like an addiction. I’m not sure I can force my brain to slow down and focus on just one task. I think I have grown accustomed to the over-stimulation of multitasking.

]]> By: Andre http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/01/reversing-the-multitasking-impulse/#comment-1493 Andre Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:17:10 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=442#comment-1493 @Tabs: Initiating a task that runs in the background while performing a conscious task is effective multitasking, like the example you point out that don't consume any mental RAM. Multitasking become counterproductive, rude or dangerous when it splits attention. A person can do math homework while doing laundry, but of part of his attention constantly listening for the machine to stop, the speed or accuracy of the homework will suffer. I always think it's better, or less stress-inducing, to batch rote tasks together, rather layer a high-focus task on top of a rote one. @Tabs: Initiating a task that runs in the background while performing a conscious task is effective multitasking, like the example you point out that don’t consume any mental RAM. Multitasking become counterproductive, rude or dangerous when it splits attention. A person can do math homework while doing laundry, but of part of his attention constantly listening for the machine to stop, the speed or accuracy of the homework will suffer. I always think it’s better, or less stress-inducing, to batch rote tasks together, rather layer a high-focus task on top of a rote one.

]]> By: Tabs at Levnow http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/01/reversing-the-multitasking-impulse/#comment-1481 Tabs at Levnow Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:01:43 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=442#comment-1481 I think multitasking has gotten a bad name because people don't know when it is appropriate to multitask, reading while driving your car on the freeway is suicidal and stupid. Washing dishes while you have a conversation on the phone is effective multitasking. Checking out another website if one is taking too long to load is good use of the time. Talking on the phone or texting while trying to have a serious conversation is just plain bad manners. One can focus on doing one thing at a time and when different tasks or ideas suddenly come up, write it down and follow up immediately, that way you finish what you are currently working on and you don't forget that brilliant idea you just hatched. Thanks for the post -Tabs I think multitasking has gotten a bad name because people don’t know when it is appropriate to multitask, reading while driving your car on the freeway is suicidal and stupid. Washing dishes while you have a conversation on the phone is effective multitasking. Checking out another website if one is taking too long to load is good use of the time. Talking on the phone or texting while trying to have a serious conversation is just plain bad manners.

One can focus on doing one thing at a time and when different tasks or ideas suddenly come up, write it down and follow up immediately, that way you finish what you are currently working on and you don’t forget that brilliant idea you just hatched. Thanks for the post

-Tabs

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