If you want to multitask, heres how to get the most out of it.
Multitasking is, in part, a strategy to keep ourselves interested.
Staying interested means staying motivated, and thats the toughest part of the battle.
Multitasking can also make itfeellike youre doing more.
Multitasking may not be ideal, but its also not the demon everyones made it out to be.
If youre going to do it, there are ways to make the best of it.
Consider multitasking to be a tool that goes in your tool box.
Be mindful of how you take on certain tasks.
Do you get more easily distracted by some tasks more than others?
Limit Yourself to Two Big Tasks at Once
Multitasking doesnt have to mean doing everything at once.
Furthermore, both tasks must be rewarding to you.
When that happens, the demotivation can carry over to the rewarding task as well.
This also gives you the opportunity to give your brain a break.
Naturally, some tasks just go better with others.
And all while listening to your favorite podcast to boot.
Determine your own tasks that can be worked in tandem and create the perfect order of operations.
If you plan everything out right, your multitasking will be efficient and your focus unphased.
Wang and Tchernev found that multitasking withconcurrent rewardsmade work far more satisfying for participants.
Youre not a robot, and you have emotional needs that need to be met.
Multitasking can make menial or dreaded tasks something we actuallywantto get done.
You might even complete something youve been putting off sooner because you made it more enjoyable.
The key here is choosing the right types of reward tasks to layer with your productive tasks.
Its best to avoid things that constantly interrupt you or require a great deal of switching your focus.
Illustration by Sam Woolley.
