Most of us understand that the basic concept of multi-tasking is the ability to work on more than one task at a time. Most of us also try and do it a little too consistently. We're of the belief that we need to get better at it and that there are people out there who can handle 100 different projects simultaneously time with peak efficiency.
I'd argue that all those things we think we know, are incorrect.
My ability to multi-task is admittedly, shit. It wasn't great before my TBI and it's even worse now. But like others, I fought it because I've always felt that I'm SUPPOSED to be good at balancing multiple projects if I want to be a high achiever. Because that's what all the successful people and articles seemed to say. Frustratingly, many of those people, the ones we follow on social media and seek to learn from, are constantly involved in projects and completing various achievements, thus heightening this false belief.
So where am I going with this?
I'm going to break down some differences that 'seemingly' allow others to accomplish more with the same amount of time. Notice I said seemingly? That word will matter. Keep reading.
To begin, it must be recognized that we're all individuals with vastly different lives. Our backgrounds, interests, financial situations, ect, will play into the tasks we're able to complete.
Examples: A person with children is going to have vastly different priorities than a person without. A financially stable person is going to have vastly different opportunities than a person just getting started. A person who's been in a specific industry for years is going to have vastly different knowledge to pull from than a person who's been in it for 6 months.
In all these examples, the time needed to complete tasks will vary for different reasons and that certainly plays a roll.
As I've looked into my own inabilities to be as proficient with multi-tasking I made some revelations regarding my own behaviors and how they compare to those I work to learn from and the discoveries were shockingly...simple.
Like weight loss and exercise, which I use here because they're my field, there are no "Magic" solutions or special hacks. The differences in my own behaviors and thosfe who're seemingly (there's that word again) successful, are simple.
1.) They handle distraction better: Even while writing this, I've bounced around reading messages and even dropping a social media post. Admittedly some of that is because I also have a goal this year of being better of doing things when I think about them instead of adding it to a "To-do" list. However, because a distraction is a distraction, it's taking me longer to write this than it may otherwise.
2.) They Prioritize Effectively: I say effectively because most of us prioritize in one way or another but we don't always do it in a the best manner. I'm as guilty as anyone of prioritizing tasks I prefer over those I don't even though those I don't are the ones I SHOULD be doing. The more successful people acknowledge this, adjust when necessary, and are good at being comfortable with discomfort.
3.) They're Organized: This is huge and something I've been working diligently on the past 6 months. For me, being organized has become as much a physical as mental requirement because it literally affects my brain health. With a TBI the more work is required of the brain, the more fatigued it gets, and the less ability to function optimally it has. In disorganized situations, whether it be clutter in the house or a disorganized work project, the brain has to input additional information, sort it, and process. That's extra work that will limit abilities on the back end. And while my TBI impacts it more than it may for someone who hasn't had a brain injury, it's still requires additional brain power that could be used elsewhere. Organization is good for everyone and success predicates that we have some ability to initiate it.
4.) They Plan: This works well in conjunction with numbers 1 and 2. Planning is incredibly important to efficiency and is vital to the idea of multi-tasking. First, it's an incredible time saver. Shawna and I have both taken up nightly and morning routines that we're finding to be amazingly beneficial. Simple tasks such as setting out the next days clothing and having all our gear packed at night, meal prepping (contrary to popular belief it's a great time saver). These are just simple examples but whether in person life or business, having good plans makes a huge difference when creating efficient systems.
5.) They Set Boundaries: This is a BIG one. How often do we allow outside influences to impact us? I'm not referring to unpredictable scenarios that require changing course like illness or emergency situations. I'm talking about situations where the only reason we don't say no is because of fear. Fear of making someone angry or upset. Fear of being judged harshly. Fear or being ostracized or outcast because our priorities don't match what others think they should be. Successful people are better at setting their boundaries and understanding that the short term discomfort will be worth it.
6.) They Understand the Importance of Discomfort: This is a big one. As I mentioned above,
being comfortable with discomfort is huge. Successful people have willingness, understanding, and ability to make themselves uncomfortable because they understand discomfort breeds growth, adaptation, and experience that cannot be gained any other way.
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7.) They're Willing to Delegate: This is huge. I SUCK at this. SUCK. Mostly because it seems as though when I attempt to delegate the task either doesn't get done or it's not to standard. But, and this is a huge BUT, some of that is one me for not taking the time to explain and set proper expectations. Successful people delegate because they understand the value not just in having more eyes and ears, but having proficient people around them. A side benefit is that not only can you delegate to those people, eventually they'll get so good you won't have to because the tasks will simply be done.
8.) They Understand their Strengths and Weaknesses: This could probably be a 7a but it also isn't simply about delegating because at times we may have to accomplish tasks that aren't a strength but need to be done. However, by knowing what our strengths and weaknesses are we can better work with and around them, allowing for more efficiency.
9.) They're Good with Time Management: This plays into many of the above successful people are good with their time. Because they plan, organize, and prioritize, they're able to use their time efficiently.
10.) They See the Big Picture: This one is important. First, it ties the first 9 points together. When you see the big picture you understand why each is important and over time will develop the foresight to understand how each plays into specific and non-specific tasks.
Second, the ability to see the big picture is a big part of why it seems some people able to multi-task better than other. By seeing the big picture, they can plan the tasks and moves in a way that not just part of a single project is being accomplished, but multiple. Let's use and example here.
A mom of two school age children has five tasks to accomplish this afternoon. She has to pick her children up from school, read a chapter in science book in the class she's taking for her graduate degree, make a call to the bank to correct an error, make dinner, and spend quality time with her children.
All three are time consuming and done separately, potentially overwhelming. How does she multi-task 5 things that ALL require attention:
First, on the way to pick her children up she uses an audio version of her science book to get a jump start on the chapter.
When she arrives at the school, 10 minutes earlier than normal, she parks the car and calls the back to rectify the error. It only takes 5 minutes and she plays her book for another 5.
Children picked up, she speaks with them on the ride home about their day and they lay out a play for any potential homework help that evening.
While making dinner she goes back to the audio version of her science book. While she gets interrupted repeatedly by the children, she's able to get about 25 more minutes of the chapter accomplished.
Post dinner, she works with the children to teach them how to clean up the kitchen before helping them with homework and then picks a science related game to play with them because it's beneficial for all plus she's able to get some great family time.
As the children are put down for sleep, she returns to her science class, reviews the material from the chapter in her book, and then relaxes her self before settling into bed to restart tomorrow.
This is of course a fictional account but as you can see, while it may appear from the outside that she's great at multitasking, what she was really good at are the 10 steps mentioned above. Will it always be that clean? Nope. But by using the time we have available as efficiently as possible, the ability to accomplish is raised significantly. How often in example used would be listen to the radio to pick up the kids, make dinner with the TV on, spent time in from of the computer or phone, and then feel rushed and unaccomplished at the end of the day, feeling like we have no time when the reality is we just didn't use it appropriately?
I know from personal experience I've done it A LOT and I'm not alone.
But I'm learning. I'm evaluating. And I'm evolving. Because if she can do it, and they can do it, so can I.
And so can you.
10.) They See the Big Picture: This one is important. First, it ties the first 9 points together. When you see the big picture you understand why each is important and over time will develop the foresight to understand how each plays into specific and non-specific tasks.
Second, the ability to see the big picture is a big part of why it seems some people able to multi-task better than other. By seeing the big picture, they can plan the tasks and moves in a way that not just part of a single project is being accomplished, but multiple. Let's use and example here.
A mom of two school age children has five tasks to accomplish this afternoon. She has to pick her children up from school, read a chapter in science book in the class she's taking for her graduate degree, make a call to the bank to correct an error, make dinner, and spend quality time with her children.
All three are time consuming and done separately, potentially overwhelming. How does she multi-task 5 things that ALL require attention:
First, on the way to pick her children up she uses an audio version of her science book to get a jump start on the chapter.
When she arrives at the school, 10 minutes earlier than normal, she parks the car and calls the back to rectify the error. It only takes 5 minutes and she plays her book for another 5.
Children picked up, she speaks with them on the ride home about their day and they lay out a play for any potential homework help that evening.
While making dinner she goes back to the audio version of her science book. While she gets interrupted repeatedly by the children, she's able to get about 25 more minutes of the chapter accomplished.
Post dinner, she works with the children to teach them how to clean up the kitchen before helping them with homework and then picks a science related game to play with them because it's beneficial for all plus she's able to get some great family time.
As the children are put down for sleep, she returns to her science class, reviews the material from the chapter in her book, and then relaxes her self before settling into bed to restart tomorrow.
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| We ALL Know That Feeling |
This is of course a fictional account but as you can see, while it may appear from the outside that she's great at multitasking, what she was really good at are the 10 steps mentioned above. Will it always be that clean? Nope. But by using the time we have available as efficiently as possible, the ability to accomplish is raised significantly. How often in example used would be listen to the radio to pick up the kids, make dinner with the TV on, spent time in from of the computer or phone, and then feel rushed and unaccomplished at the end of the day, feeling like we have no time when the reality is we just didn't use it appropriately?
I know from personal experience I've done it A LOT and I'm not alone.
But I'm learning. I'm evaluating. And I'm evolving. Because if she can do it, and they can do it, so can I.
And so can you.
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