How to multitask without stress: 6 coaching tips to get everything done and survive

How to multitask without stress: 6 coaching tips to get everything done and survive

Breaking down strategies to stay effective and stay healthy.

MSS Business Coach, Executive Coach

“Often I work with business leaders who demand that their employees multitask, or some other competency that allows them to accomplish twice as much by doing multiple things in parallel. Subordinates most often struggle to meet this demand. They try to validate their multitasking in every possible way. People are afraid to admit that phased execution is better for them. They are afraid of disappointing the manager. What does that lead to?”

Our multitasking at work boils down to doing a project, answering a call or working with a client while keeping one eye on the computer monitor. It would seem that two things are realized at once. However, practice shows that we perform each of them worse than when we take turns.

Try to talk to a person while simultaneously typing a text message. You will either show your interlocutor that you are absent, uninvolved in the conversation, or make silly mistakes in the text. This way you can both spoil the relationship and damage the business correspondence.

My opinion on the topic of multitasking was influenced by a study by scientists from Essex, who made interesting conclusions. They found out – when we do several things in parallel, the gray cells in the front part of the brain die off. This means that we don’t just realize this or that task not very qualitatively… We destroy our brain.

So what do you do if you can’t avoid multitasking? We need to arm ourselves with certain strategies that will help optimize the process, making it more productive and safer.

Prioritizing tasks, setting clear goals, taking regular breaks and using time management techniques are all methods that will help you be efficient and keep you healthy. Let’s break them down in detail.

6 tips to survive multitasking

1. During your workday, set a timer for 15-20 minutes at a time. During this interval, do only one thing, don’t switch.
2. If you find it very difficult to stay focused for 15-20 minutes, start with five minutes of total immersion in one task. The human quality productivity curve is about 25 minutes. Soon five minutes won’t be enough for you, and you will gradually consciously increase that time.
3. Check yourself for ADHD – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It affects up to 80% of adults. For its treatment, there are not only special drugs that support brain function, but also special exercises by neuropsychologists.
4. Do periods of isolation from other people and secondary tasks. This is important to get the opportunity to work and think in silence when no one distracts you. After a couple months, your brain will learn to focus for longer periods of time.
5. Try to allocate periods of activity and rest during your planning. The latter should definitely be scheduled – 15 minutes every three hours. A mandatory lunch break is also important. Don’t forget about full weekends: two days a week and one week every 3-4 months. For these periods, do not plan any training, creating something new, renovation or major house cleaning. Dedicate this time to relaxation. If we have found that brain cells are being destroyed, why would we want to exacerbate the process?
6. Make prioritized lists. Remember that one big task is many small ones. You can line them up on a list by priority,. This way, as you climb up the ladder of tasks, you end up on top.

Multitasking is a practice that can be both helpful and harmful. It all depends on how you apply it. If we know how to effectively organize our time, prioritize and delegate tasks, multitasking can be a powerful tool for productivity and success. If we don’t know how to control our attention, constantly switching between tasks and not allowing ourselves to focus on one thing at a time, it will lead to a decline in effectiveness and a feeling of constant tension.