Introducing your secret weapon against multitasking
The takeaway
MULTITASKING j
Introducing your secret weapon against multitasking
In today ’ s fast-paced digital world , conditions are rife for multitasking . Your attention is like gold ; a precious resource constantly under siege from a barrage of emails , texts , instant messages and notifications . Your ability to maintain focus on a single task for an extended period is akin to wielding a superpower that can revolutionise how you navigate every aspect of your life .
Enter mindfulness or awareness and attention training . It ’ s not just a relaxation technique ; it ’ s a skill that can be honed to give you a competitive edge in this attentiondriven world . Just like a muscle , your ability to focus and concentrate on one thing at a time can be developed through mindfulness practice .
Mindfulness training acts as a mental leash , gently guiding your thoughts back to the task at hand . Through practices like meditation and mindfulness exercises , you learn to recognise distractions and bring your focus back to the present moment ; to the task at hand . This mental discipline is your secret weapon against the constant urge to multitask and the key to the biggest productivity hack no-one is talking about – uni-tasking . When we focus our mental energy on just one task our productivity , performance and mental wellbeing soar .
Mindful uni-tasking also helps us tap into flow-state ; a state of deep , immersive focus where time seems to fly b , and you ’ re completely focused and engaged in the moment . It ’ s when we ’ re at our most productive . In fact , a 10-year study from management company McKinsey found executives that could access flow were 500 % more productive . The catch ? Achieving flow requires giving your full attention to a single task .
The takeaway
As EAs you ’ re expected to juggle multiple tasks at any given time , wearing many hats and putting out fires as they arise . But if you want to get on top of things and avoid burnout , you need to be ruthless with how you manage your time and limit distraction .
Multitasking can give you a ( false ) sense of efficiency but it ’ s actually killing your productivity and leading to more stress and overwhelm . Instead , be a uni-tasking time-master – and enjoy that extra day a week ! S
THE EXPERT
Ray Good is a peak performance mindfulness expert , executive coach and keynote speaker . As the founder of The Good Place , he has been relied on by many of Australia ’ s biggest organisations to help them fight stress , think better and perform at their best .
Let ’ s give multitasking the flick
Here are some of Ray ’ s top tips to help you work more mindfully and avoid the multitasking time-trap :
w Prioritise your to do list : Start your day by making a to do list . Then prioritise your tasks – focus on the most important ones first . w Uni-tasking for the win : Make a pact with yourself to uni-task whenever possible . Deep dive into one task at a time and you ’ ll find it ’ s more effective and less stressful in the long-run . Try productivity hacks like the Pomodoro technique . Here , you set a timer for 25 or 50 minutes and work , undistracted , on one task until the timer goes off . Then get up and take a five or 10-minute break . Repeat this four times and then reward yourself with a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes . Watch your productivity go through the roof ! w Remove digital distractions : Turn off notifications or set devices ( computers , phones , watches ) to flight-mode because nothing kills focus like the ping of an incoming alert . Set specific times to check emails and social media , and consider app or browser blockers to keep those timesucking websites at bay during work hours . w Mini mindful breaks : Schedule short mindful breaks throughout the day . Use them to practice quick mindfulness techniques , like breathing exercises or micro-meditations to recharge your brain for more focused work . w Zen workspace : Optimise your environment for success . Work in a space where you won ’ t be distracted and considering noise-cancelling earphones or some ambient music to help you focus . Incense optional !
20 Executive PA | Summer Issue 2024