Multitasking is the ability of a person to quickly switch their attention from one thing to another as well as perform several tasks almost simultaneously. It’s quite easy to develop this skill. In most cases, when we face the need to deal with several issues at once, our brain and nervous system are under overload and stress. The regular strain on the body of this kind can lead to serious neuropsychiatric disorders.
However, can we eliminate or reduce multitasking to a safe level in modern living situations? Alas, the rhythm of life dictates a completely different thing. Therefore, it is extremely important to cope with several things at once to achieve success. But, in turn, this does not mean that you should sacrifice health and mental balance. Since any achievement will lose its meaning without them.
You should not underestimate your brain since it allows you to cope with two things at the same time. In addition, multitasking can be trained. What strategies can help you in this case?
1. Focusing on a specific task
You shouldn’t create multitasking conditions without urgent need. Sometimes we do not notice how we do it artificially. For example, you are trying to respond to messages and view pages on social networks while cooking. Or, communicating in an informal friendly atmosphere, you may try to solve an important professional problem in your mind. This creates additional stress and emasculates your nervous system. Learn to focus as much as possible on what you are doing, without being distracted by extraneous thoughts and actions. It trains such a quality as composure, which will help you develop the right multitasking.
2. Avoiding distractions
In the modern world, where electronic information tools are always at hand, it is not difficult to distract from the task being performed. This gives rise to the illusion that we effectively do several things at once. However, this is just an illusion. To avoid distractions, you must first determine what is stopping you the most. You should analyze what it gives you, and then abandon those side works that are not really productive and necessary.
3. Making a list of upcoming events
When you have a clear plan of action for a day, it is much easier for you to adequately allocate the time and effort to complete each of them. However, it's not enough to draw up a plan. It is very important to do it right, putting the most important and difficult things in the first place. You should accurately follow what you have planned to do, without changing and rearranging things in favor of momentary emotions.
4. Delegation of tasks
On the one hand, the desire to do everything yourself is commendable and speaks of you as a responsible person. However, hyper-responsibility and inability to entrust the tasks to others, who can do them, just give rise to meaningless multitasking and life under stress. Learn to let go of situations, delegate your tasks to other employees and household chores to family members. In the end, you are not an omniscient and omnipotent machine!