The truth is that multitasking has something of a reputation. On the one hand, it sounds like it’s going to be incredibly productive, but on the other hand, we all know that trying to do too much at once can leave us feeling frazzled and forgetful—and that’s not helpful in any way. The biggest problem is we don’t all know how to multitask efficiently and effectively.
What you might not know is that when it’s done well (and be ‘well’, we mean sensibly), multitasking can work and make everything better and more productive for you. You don’t have to be a superhero about things, but you should be a bit more clever with your time so that you’re not trying to do everything at once – instead, you’re finding ways to make things run smoother.
With that in mind, keep reading to find out more about how to multitask like a pro.
Make Productivity Practical
We’re all busy – work meetings, school runs, laundry piles that never end… it’s a lot. But there are ways to sneak productivity into the spaces in between. For example, if you’re waiting for the kettle to boil, you could do a few stretches or empty the dishwasher. If you’re watching TV, you could get on your exercise bike or make your shopping list. If you’re talking on the phone, that’s the perfect time to get some dusting done, and so on.
What we’re saying is that multitasking doesn’t have to be a lot of very important things all at once – it’s just a way of doing all the smaller jobs when you can fit them all in. Sometimes it’s as simple as doing what’s known as a ‘brain-off task’ while you’re also doing a ‘brain-on task’, or combining movement with being productive (like walking the dog while solving a word puzzle or going through your upcoming presentation).
Movement Meets Motivation
One of the best ways to multitask is to wrap movement into your day without even noticing – the fact is that you don’t always need a gym session to feel like you’ve accomplished something, and actually, everyday chores can be fantastic at getting your body moving (especially chores that involve lifting, squatting, and walking around).
Take outdoor chores, for example – mowing the lawn isn’t just something you have to do from time to time. When you think about it, it’s cardio, only you’ve never noticed before. You’re walking, pushing, turning, and you’ll certainly be getting your heart rate up, plus it’s satisfying. That’s why good lawn mowers are so important; it’s a fantastic tool and a fitness machine rolled into one.
Find Home Office Life Hacks
If you work from home, the lines between work and home life can blur quickly, but that’s where multitasking can be so useful and help make things a lot easier for you. You could, for example, set a timer for 25 minutes and use those 25 minutes to focus on your work. Then take a five-minute break, and use that time to do things like unload the dishwasher or put some laundry in the machine or whatever else might need doing. Taking that break and doing something different gives your brain a re-set and it means that by the end of the day, everything has been done.
And why is that important? It’s because it means that during the evening you’ll be able to properly relax or hang out with friends or do whatever else it is you like to do in your downtime without the worry that there are still jobs to do hanging over you.
Don’t Forget The Joy
Something that’s really important to remember is that not every multitask you do has to be supremely efficient and really get you somewhere – sometimes it’s just about doing something that fills you with joy while you also do something else that’s less enjoyable. So you could listen to a good podcast while you cook, for example, or go for a walk but go with a friend and have a chat.
In other words, productivity doesn’t always have to look like crossing things off your list and taking great strides forward. Sometimes it looks like getting through the day without getting too stressed and finding a few moments of joy, and that can be enough.
Final Thoughts
The truth is we all multitask in small ways all the time, often without realizing it, but the trick is to be a bit more intentional about things, and that might mean choosing tasks that pair well together or mixing movement with times when you can be quite still, or perhaps even giving your mind a break while you keep your hands busy.
And finally, remember that multitasking doesn’t have to mean doing everything – it means doing what you can when you can in a way that works for you.
Read more: How to Stay in Shape When You’re Busy – 6 Effective Tips
Tags: career, chores, errands, how to multi-task, how to multitask, multi-tasking, multitasking, productivity, work
