Discover how being mindless can affect your productivity and cause unnecessary stress in 4 steps.
We all know that doing two things at the same isn’t a productive approach to our tasks.
Until some time ago, we were proud to mention during job interviews we could multitask, but let’s face it: it’s not considered such a strength anymore.
The thing about multitasking
One of the definitions for multitasking is:
the ability to do several things at the same time.
There are some tasks we perform together without much of a problem, such as:
- Making a note while talking on the phone.
- Dancing when listening to music.
- Singing in the shower.
They’re so simple and so ordinary you might have never thought about the fact they’re independent activities.
Other tasks, however, can be the source of real problems when done at the same time, for example:
- Eating and driving.
- Playing with kids in the kitchen while cooking.
- Texting and crossing the street.
Parents may argue that there’s no way they can focus exclusively on one thing when their children are around.
I’m not going to disagree with that.
Yet, there are certain situations when you should avoid multitasking at all costs.
Dangers aside, studies prove that multitasking:
4 steps to stop being mindless and become more productive. #coaching #mentorship #MindfulPlanning Click To TweetAfter so many reasons why not to multitask, what leads so many of us to insist on it?
Why you shouldn’t multitask
Multitasking isn’t something new.
Apparently, humans have been doing it for a long, long time.
The problem now is that it’s just too much. And they aren’t simple tasks.
One thing is singing a song while reading the lyrics. Something completely different is having an important meeting and emailing at the same time.
You can’t do both equally well.
In the end, or you’ll have to ask for an update on the points you missed during the meeting, or you’ll have to carefully review your email later (preferably before hitting send).
Your full attention is required if you don’t want to perform your tasks mindlessly.
That’s where it makes no sense to multitask.
If you want to become more productive, you must focus on what you’re doing, period.
The thing about productivity
To be sure you’re producing accordingly, you must:
Have goals
Goals help you determine your direction.
You cannot do anything or go anywhere if you don’t know what you want.
Whether your goals are short or long term, they’re the basement that guides you towards what is important to you.
Read more about setting goals to become more productive here.
Define your priorities
There’s only so much you can do in a day, week or month.
If you want to do anything at all, you need to establish your priorities.
It’s up to you to decide what comes first:
- health
- family
- career
Even though there should be some common sense when picking up your urgency, at the end of the day, the choice is all yours.
Read more about defining priorities here.
Know yourself
You might have the most altruistic dreams, but unless you look within first, you won’t get much further.
Listening to your body and understanding who you are, your needs, strengths, and areas for improvement are mandatory to set a productive strategy.
If you aren’t mindful about yourself, how can you be mindful about your productivity?
Read more about self-knowledge here.
Get things done
While your plan has everything to lead you to success, you’ll get nowhere unless you do what you have to do.
But how to act when there’s no focus?
Read more about how to get things done here.
The thing about being mindless
- When was the last time you were not busy?
- When did you last feel relax and not overwhelmed?
We’re always rushing from one appointment to another; from a meeting to the next one; yet, our to-do list(s) only seems to grow.
This never-ending story forces us to a desperate modus when we try to accomplish the impossible at any cost. Including at the expense of our health.
While a mindful person is aware of him/herself, a mindless one has no purpose.
Mindless people go with the flow without reflection.
Being mindless is dangerous whether it concerns small daily tasks or big (life) projects.
Not only it doesn’t promote growth, but it also causes stress.
Being mindful or mindless is the difference between being busy and being productivity; feeling overwhelmed and feeling accomplished.
Some questions for your reflection:
- Why do you get up in the morning every day?
- Why do you do the things you do?
- What are the results you expect from your actions?
Remember that there’s never a right or wrong answer to such questions. They’re personal and depend on countless factors.
Still, it’s imperative that these answers are:
- meaningful
- clear
- triggering the right actions
How do you know it’s the case?
Discover how being mindless affects your productivity and causes stress. #coaching #mentorship #MindfulPlanning Click To TweetBy mindfully evaluating your goals, plans and progress.
Taking action
To be able to move forward, it’s imperative you start to act in your life.
Stop letting yourself go with the flow and assume personal responsibility for your present.
While there isn’t a magic pill you take, and things become perfect, it takes fate out of the equation and empowers you.
If you haven’t done it yet, you’ll need to work on the four productivity steps listed above.
Even though I’m sure, you want to progress as fast as you can, have in mind that it’s not a 5k race, but an ultra marathon.
It’s much better to take one step at a time and progress according to your priorities at the moment.
Your preparation will be the key to your success.
Rushing through steps just-because will get you nowhere.
Pace yourself at a comfortable speed and keep on moving.
You’ll be able to improve yourself by becoming:
- More productive.
- More mindful.
- Less stressed.
Before you go
Can you answer the following question in the comments below, please?
What’s your opinion about multitasking?
