Why You Need to Do One Thing at a Time

Focus on single-tasking for increased creativity, happiness, and productivity

If you chase two rabbits, you will catch neither one.~Russian proverb

What happens when we stop trying to do so many things at once?

We’ll see improvement in our job performance, personal relationships, and moods. Our productivity and creativity will increase. We’ll restore our health and well-being. When we try to multi-task, we’re not functioning at full capacity. Splitting our attention makes our brains work harder. It’s exhausting to try to keep up such a pace.

Here are a few things that happen when we allow ourselves to single-task:

You immerse yourself in the present moment.

It’s beneficial to stay in a present state of awareness. We tend to rush things these days. Be here now. It’ll settle your nerves. You’ll be thorough and accomplish much without moving too fast to finish. You’ll feel better overall.

It’s common to check our phone notifications while doing other things. I’ve perused Facebook while eating lunch. I shovel in my food and practically forget what I’m tasting.

When we make a conscious decision to remove distractions, we’ll find pleasure in the simplest activities. You can single-task when you purposely sit and do nothing. Your only task is to allow yourself to be present.

Once you’re in present-moment awareness, you’ll stay mindful of all that surrounds you. You’ll notice your breath. You’ll feel grounded and centered. You can even discover enjoyment in performing menial tasks.

You’ll be productive and efficient.

Everything runs more smoothly when we focus on single tasks. If you’re distracted by our phone, for example, you could spill the tea you see in the photo above.

Have you ever started something and got distracted? The first task gets ignored in favor of the second. You still have to come back to the first thing to get everything done. Your brain has to switch gears. I’ve noticed how long it takes to finish when I’m trying to take care of multiple things at once. If we want to be efficient, we need to complete one task at a time.

Here’s an example. When I come into the kitchen in the morning, I have several tasks to accomplish. I start boiling water. I put away last night’s dishes while it heats up. If I get too ambitious, my brain gets tired of trying to keep track. It’s easier to single-task during the morning routine. When I finish one thing and move onto the next, it’s a smoother operation. We don’t have to move faster. Slow and steady wins the race.

You’ll feel happier and more relaxed.

It’s soothing to make a conscious choice to do one task from beginning to end. I’m quite satisfied with the process. My mind is clear and focused. I feel an overall sense of well-being.

I notice what happens when I try to prepare the food before putting away all the dishes. I feel anxious to get it done. I might get clumsy and drop something when I try to rush.

Deleterious effects on our brains are evident in research on multi-tasking. According to the article in Forbes Magazine, “Why Single Tasking Makes You Smarter,”

Multitasking is a brain drain that exhausts the mind, zaps cognitive resources and, if left unchecked, condemns us to early mental decline and decreased sharpness. Chronic multitaskers also have increased levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which can damage the memory region of the brain.

You’ll access your creativity.

Whenever we single focus, we allow our minds to expand. Creative juices flow when we’re available to notice them.

I write almost exclusively on my phone. I ignore all notifications. I only use the Ecosia search engine for my research, photo retrieval, and quotes. It’s easy to get creative when I’m not interrupted.

It’s also important to place my focus only on writing one story at a time. I don’t look at others in progress. Otherwise, my mind gets activated in another subject altogether. I’m most creative when I aim to prevent any distractions.

I discovered another interesting fact while searching for information.

There’s no such thing as multitasking.

Research shows multitasking is a myth, according to Jim Taylor, Ph.D. He discusses this in the article published in Psychology Today, “Technology: Myth of Multi-tasking.”

Multitasking involves engaging in two tasks simultaneously. But here’s the catch. It’s only possible if two conditions are met: 1) at least one of the tasks is so well learned as to be automatic, meaning no focus or thought is necessary to engage in the task (e.g., walking or eating) and 2) they involve different types of brain processing.

There’s a distinction between, for example, responding to an email and listening to instrumental music while writing an article. We’re using different parts of our brain for each task. Taylor explains multitasking is more like serial tasking, which lowers our productivity and efficiency by about 40 percent (Psychology Today).

In conclusion

Embrace a single-task way of life. It’s stressful to finishing all kinds of things at once. Our brains and bodies need a break.

Stay conscious of the present moment. Take a deep breath and move forward with your day. You’ll discover doing one task at a time makes you more productive and creative. Relax and enjoy everything you do with simplicity and intentionality.

Be like a postage stamp — stick to one thing until you get there.~Josh Billings

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