or decades, multitasking has been presented as the ultimate time-saver. Juggling email, meetings, and projects all at once was a badge of honour. But science has a different answer: multitasking is a productivity killer, not a superpower.
As work accelerates and becomes more complex, it's high time to redesign work itself. And what's the alternative? Single-tasking, or doing one thing with maximum depth.
The myth of multitasking
It is found that the human brain is unable to concentrate on two taxing tasks together. We alternate quickly between tasks, wasting energy and making things less efficient.
Cost of multitasking encompasses:
- 40% or more lost to constant switching between tasks.
- Higher error rates and slower problem-solving.
- More stress and mind fatigue from managing tasks.
What seems to be doing more usually ends up being thinner work stretched thinner.
Why single-tasking works better
Single-tasking is performing fewer things at one time but with better quality intentions. When an employee single-tasks an activity, they:
- Reach deeper concentration states (sometimes called “flow”).
- Work faster with fewer errors.
- Less stress and more satisfaction with accomplishing tasks efficiently.
It is not about being efficient but creating a space where people can thrive.
How to shift from multitasking to single-tasking
Avoiding multitasking is an individual practice coupled with organizational support. These are some practices that allow single-tasking.
1. Prioritise ruthlessly and limit active tasks
Get workers to pick one or two most important things to get done for the day. It limits multitasking among open tasks.
2. Plan deep work
Protect pieces of uninterrupted time, be it 90 minutes in the morning or afternoons. Time-blocking signals others (and yourself) that focus time is a priority.
3. Redefine meeting and communicative norms
Endless notifications and one-back-to-back meeting after another make single-tasking almost impossible. Smaller, more deliberate meetings and clearer rules about communications allow people time to concentrate.
4. Use tools but don’t let them distract
Software for productivity, to-do lists, or calendars can support single-tasking. Software only becomes worthwhile if applied with discipline: notifications only with restraint, never constantly.
5. Offer microbreaks between tasks
Single-tasking is not multi-tasking, and it is important to take microbreaks, which can bring macro results. We take brief pauses between tasks to allow our brain to recharge so that we can concentrate better to complete the next one.
Creating a culture of focus
It's never about individual willpower to move into single-tasking but about culture, most of all. Companies that value quality more than busy-ness, let people be independent, and have realistic workloads are where higher productivity is released alongside healthier people.
When groups refrain from celebrating multitasking but choose to cherish focus, better work is a byproduct but better wellbeing is too. Becoming single-tasking can help manage daily stress in a better way.
In an ongoing ping culture of open tabs and fluctuating agendas, multitasking might be inevitable… but it's causing burnout. Single-tasking is the mindset shift that helps us take back focus, effectiveness, and fun at work. Because here's the thing: doing fewer things at once helps us get more done.
