Chloe's Chronicles Volume II, Number 6

Chloe’s Chronicles:Views from the Management Muse

The dog days of summer seem like the ideal time to observe Chloe’s lesson about the myth of multi-tasking.  While we humans race about to accomplish more and juggle lots of tasks at the same time, Chloe is off doing one thing at a time, totally immersed in it.  She does not even attempt to split her attention.  When it is time for a walk, she is singular in her focus on getting out the door; when she retrieves a tennis ball from the river and runs to the bank, she drops the ball to the ground before shaking the water off her coat; and don’t even think of trying to get her to pay attention to something else when she is enjoying a meal or treat—unless it is a bigger treat! 

 

I recently heard a professional organizer cite studies showing that multi-tasking actually adds 10-20% to the time required to complete the tasks. By shifting our focus back and forth between tasks, we experience more ‘switching’ in our brain and each time we have to re-gain our focus we actually add time to the task.  Our grand scheme to increase efficiency creates the delusion of accomplishing more while eating up more of the precious time we were trying to save in the first place.  

 

What I notice about Chloe’s approach to task management is that she is far less stressed than most humans I know, myself included.  From time to time, she will get excited about something and forget her manners for a moment, but she seldom snaps at anyone for no apparent reason or walks around with a furled brow and rigid jaw.  She moves from one thing to the next with ease, reminding the people who can assist to help her when needed and fully experiencing every little thing that comes along.  She may have a smaller brain, but I wonder if she is not using it more effectively?

 

What does it cost you to multi-task?

 

What can you learn from Chloe’s single-task approach to work and play?  Get in on the discussion, click on Comments below and let Chloe know what you think of her lesson.