Single Tasking: The New Way To Be Productive

Table of Contents

Being a business owner follows up with one thing in particular, the stress of multitasking and trying to keep up with the busy lifestyle.

However, here at EMS we support the idea of taking each step at a time.

By single tasking you’re ultimately decreasing stress levels and have a higher chance of completing tasks quicker and at a higher quality than multitasking.

In contrast to single tasking, multitasking is actually the function of your brain frantically switching back and forth between tasks, evidently leading to a decrease of 20% productivity.

To put an end to the decreasing productivity in yourself , you should focus on single tasking efforts.

However, focusing on just one thing at a time isn’t at all easy.

It can actually be quite difficult to get into that mindset.

You can only try different techniques to see which works best for you.

Let’s start by looking at ways in which will help you to focus on single tasks..

Getting rid of any distractions

Getting rid of any distractions has definitely been mentioned before to you, a business owner when trying to focus.

However, let’s be realistic, you need your phone as a business owner due to possible unexpected calls, etc; so to just say for a business owner to sack their phone off is a bit tricky.

A phone isn’t the only distraction, there will be plenty of disguised distractions that surround you.

Start to pick apart these distractions and slowly one by one take one down. 

If a distraction for you is constantly checking the time, hide the clock, put your phone screen facing down and disable the clock on your laptop.

Disabling these potential distractions is working towards figuring out a working area that benefits you.

This can be seen as a bit of a controversial one but 

Use headphones

Music is the master of escapism. 

Just simply plopping your headphones in and plating music you like can transform you to somewhere else, a world away even.

Music platforms offer playlists that are designed for a working mindset, even a podcast could help you to just switch off and crack on.

Headphones, further work to block out any distracting noise. If you’re someone who works in a busy environment this might benefit you the most.

Noise isn’t always a distraction.

Remind yourself

Simply remind yourself of what you’re supposed to be doing.

You have access to reminders on your phone or any devices, even sticky notes!

Put sticky notes in places that you frequently visit, could that be the toilet? Put one there if you’re at home, maybe not in an office space might confuse a few.

Arrange your tasks

Filter your tasks from least enjoyable to most enjoyable but make sure the least enjoyable is completed before any other.

Again, taking each task at once will effectively improve your efficiency and has been proven to increase your creativity.

After completing a task, reward yourself with something that will give you the motivation to continue.

Let’s not forget about the satisfaction of ticking off a completed task!

Another way that can benefit you especially when arranging tasks is the Flipchart Session: Effective Ways To Create A To-Do List.

Again, fairly aware of how easy it is to get distracted and fall on reading one blog post to the other and falling down a rabbit hole of procrastination.

Recognition

Recognise what triggers this procrastination, is it just a quick ‘ maybe I should check Instagram’ thought? 

If so, recognise when you’re starting to lose interest and grab a coffee! Get some food! 

Just don’t stop until you feel like you’re at a point where you could pick up the task again easily.

There’s a Harvard study in 2010 that states that people spend almost 47% of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they’re currently doing.

So in coherence with this percentage..

Give yourself a break

Do what 47% of your waking hours are thinking about.

Give yourself a break! Take a moment to be selfish.

There’s no judgement here.

Don’t forget, it’s all about trial and error, these techniques that have been suggested might not be for you, continue with your research.

Don’t give up!

Lastly, let’s recap; multitasking isn’t always beneficial to you, it causes less productivity and a hella lot of stress whereas single-tasking has proven to be more efficient and can reduce stress! A bonus!


For more helpful resources just use our very own resource centre!