Multitasking is killing your productivity: How to stop switching between tasks

In theory, the modern workplace should work more smoothly than ever before. We have a full range of apps to help us manage our tasks, communication is always accessible and instantaneous, not to mention the omnipresence of the Internet, which provides us with the answer to all our questions and queries at any time of the day or night.

Of course, there’s also artificial intelligence. Developing at breakneck speed, the rise of artificial intelligence is set to change the way we currently think about the world of work. For now, it may be enough to spend the day being “busy,” but as we move into this new era, humans will need to adapt to a more creative and results-driven way of working in order to stay relevant and successful.

In short, this means that we need to be at our best now more than ever. We can no longer afford to treat creativity as a mere accessory; it must become the cornerstone of everything we do, regardless of our role or industry.

The problem is that this approach doesn’t fit with our current work culture. Instead, we’ve adopted a work-first mentality where our days are measured by how stressed and excited we feel after they’re over, rather than by what we’ve actually accomplished.

If we end the day exhausted, we think we’ve been productive. However, the truth is that our priorities are often wrong and, like a hamster in a wheel, we can burn out without making any real progress. One of the main causes of this phenomenon is the cultural addiction to multitasking. In theory, multitasking sounds great. Who doesn’t want to multitask?

In many ways, this seems like a classic case of killing two birds with one stone (or even ten birds with one stone). Unfortunately, the catch is that a a large amount of research has proven time and again that multitasking is actually – from a practical point of view – impossible. On the contrary, the facts suggest that this way of working hinders quality of what we do and makes us vulnerable to errors and missing information.

Our brains work best when they focus on one thing at a time, especially when the task at hand requires our thought and consideration. Every time we are distracted from what we are working on, it comes at a significant neurological cost. In fact, it takes the average person 23 minutes to refocus after being asked to step away from their work. This isn’t ideal when most of us have emails, messages and notifications piling up throughout the day.

So how do you stop multitasking and keep your attention on what’s in front of you? The answer is simple: you need to sharpen your focus, but the most confusing part of it all is that in order to do that, you need to spend more time being focused. UNconcentrated. Sure, it sounds weird at first glance, but it is actually a real Neuroscience-based technique to boost your cognitive abilities.

To be more specific, the type of unfocused thinking you need to make more time for is daydreaming. This means taking time-limited breaks to allow your mind to wander. When we do this, we give our focused minds a much-needed respite from the busy-ness culture that so many of us are currently caught up in. Additionally, daydreaming has been linked to a range of neurological benefits. enhanced creativity has problem solving.

The first thing many people will say when presented with this technique is, “I don’t have time to daydream!” or “I daydream all the time, so why aren’t I more creative?” So, let’s address these concerns point by point.

First of all, it’s understandable to be told that you should spend more time daydreaming when you’re already stressed out. But take a breath. Daydream breaks can be short and fit naturally into your routine. They also give you a chance to prioritize the work that really matters.

This is the double-edged sword of daydreaming: It sharpens your focus and also pushes you to better prioritize the tasks that really matter. To focus on performance rather than the stress of jumping from one task to another, you should consider breaking your day into sections.

For example, set aside an hour a day to deal with emails, rather than dealing with them as they come in. You can also try working with your natural energy flow: If you notice that you’re most productive first thing in the morning, tackle your most challenging tasks then, so you can leave the more mundane tasks for when you hit a natural afternoon slump.

As for the second point, many people claim that they already dream daily without reaping the benefits. However, in reality, they are worrying or ruminating. It is important to note that the type of daydreaming that provides cognitive benefits is free and positive.

Ideally, you should preface any daydreaming session by spending some time learning about the topic you would like to be more creative and productive in. For example, a marketer might spend some time researching their competitors before coming up with their own campaign ideas. This is because it gives your subconscious mind something to think about while you are in the daydream state so that the ideas you generate are focused in an area that is useful to you.

Ultimately, it may seem counterintuitive, but spending more time mind-wandering will actually sharpen your focus and make you more productive. With increased focus, mental clarity, and creative ideas to boot, daydreaming is the unlikely secret weapon to overcoming your multitasking addiction and achieving true success at work.

Chris Griffiths and Caragh Medlicott are the authors of The Focus Fix: Finding Clarity, Creativity, and Resilience in an Overwhelming World.