Are you multitasking? Heavy tasks? Do this instead
Are you tired of drowning in heavy tasks? You try to do everything – and end up getting nothing done.
You multitask.
You jump from email to meeting, from Teams to to-do list, and the one heavy task you really need to do? You push it ahead of you.
You multitask, but you just feel more stressed - and less productive. The solution: You need to change your method. You need to stop multitasking.
This is what you should do instead.
Hourly boxing
Stop “working on something like that every now and then”.
Set a specific time block, e.g. from: 09:00–09:45.
Then you only work on that one task.
You don't open any emails. You don't check any notifications. You don't switch between tabs. You're just focused on the one thing you need to get done.
Time blocking
You don't save time by doing everything at once.
What you need to do is group similar tasks, such as: Email, meetings, planning. All of these get their own dedicated section. You lose control when you constantly switch back and forth between different types of tasks.
Turn on "Do Not Disturb""
Notifications destroy your focus. Every time they beep, it costs you time and concentration.
Turn off everything, from: Mail, phone, Slack.
You don't need to be online all the time.
What you need is to get things done.
Use the Pomodoro Method
You can work in short sessions: 25 minutes of focus and then 5 minutes of break.
After four rounds, you take a longer break.
This is for those of you who feel drained long before lunch.
Pomodoro gives you structure, breaks, and control.
Eat the frog first
Relax, this is just a concept. It's about taking on the worst task first. You know the task I mean. The one you never start, the one that's sitting there gnawing away. Do that first, don't warm up with smaller tasks.
Start with the worst, and feel how much easier the rest becomes.
Choose one thing that is important
Don't make a list of 12 things to do. Pick one.
Do that task first, and the rest can wait.
If everything is important, nothing is important.
More tips!
So then you know what you can do instead of multitasking.
But another important point is prioritization.
Finally, we will discuss how you can prioritize better and avoid getting stuck on what to do.
Write everything down
As long as all the tasks are in your head, everything feels chaotic.
You have to get it out. Write it on paper, in an app – just get it out of your head.
The difference between important and noise
What is actually important – and what only feels important because it's loud?
Don't let notifications and trivia hijack your priorities.
Use the Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower Matrix is a prioritization matrix. It is designed to help you distinguish between tasks that are: Important/not important, urgent/not urgent.
This is what it looks like:
Drop perfectionism
You don't gain control by doing everything perfectly. You gain control by doing the most important thing – well enough.
Self-sabotage
Multitasking is not a superpower. It's self-sabotage.
It makes you feel busy – while you are standing still. What you need is no more effort.
What you need is direction. Focus. Structure. You need to stop doing everything. Start doing the right thing instead. Then you can feel the difference.
Would you prefer to see this on film?
Fear not, our reading-shy friend. We've made a video on this too.