Multitasking was once heralded as a fantastic way to maximize one’s time and get more done in a day. Then people started realizing that when they had a phone in their ear and were making calculations at the same time, their speed and accuracy (not to mention sanity) suffered. Rather than multitasking, try a new strategy known as “chunking.”
Chunking describes how human memory utilization works. It is important to remember this concept as we look at doing several tasks “simultaneously.” We are in fact switching between them rather than doing them at the same time.
Chunking
So how can you start chunking? Start small until you get the feel of it. Pick a single task, perhaps your weekly report. Set aside the 30 minutes you know it will take. Close your door. Put up a sign that reads “Genius at work” or something like that and then concentrate on the report and nothing but the report. Ignore the phone. Don’t check email. Just write the report. After about two weeks you’ll notice how much more quickly you are able to get your report done.
When you’re ready for the next phase, set aside a chunk of time for another activity. For example, instead of interrupting whatever you are working on to read each email as it comes in, set aside a specific time to tackle a chunk of emails. One manager I know reads all her email at the beginning of each hour and then ignores it until the beginning of the next hour.
Don’t waste so much of your time trying to multi-task. Instead, make yourself more efficient and more productive by chunking.
- Set aside chunks of time for specific tasks
- Reduce the time spent in start-up moments
- Don’t allow interruptions
- Increase the number and size of chunks during your day and week
- Recognize that there will still be interruptions no matter how well you chunk.
Source: F. John Reh, About.com
