Before we get into the myth of multitasking, let’s review, in case you’re just finding the series or you like to read things more than once.
Avoiding Digital Distraction
In the blog post Get Back Hours in the Day: How to Avoid Digital Distraction, we discussed one of the biggest time-wasters—your devices. Constantly picking up your phone, clicking open tabs, or reaching for the remote is draining more time than you might realize. That’s digital distraction. So, how has your screen time been since practicing digital discernment?
Your time matters, so how you spend it matters. If you haven’t grabbed the free screensaver or the 4 Ways to Get Back Hours in Your Day guide for entrepreneurs, check out the Find the Time Challenge at redeemhertime.com/time. I’ll send you the guide and screensaver to help you start saving time. Imagine cutting down from over 4 hours a day on your device—just think of the time you’ll get back to focus on what really matters. This could be life-changing, so be sure to check out How to Avoid Digital Distraction!
Setting Work Boundaries to Work Less
In the blog post Get Back Hours in the Day: How to Set Work Boundaries to Work Less, we discussed how being “always on” might feel productive. However, working longer hours doesn’t always lead to better results. If work expands to fill available time, wouldn’t you prefer to achieve the same or more by setting boundaries? And wouldn’t it be great to have dedicated time for your loved ones, your home, or YOURSELF? You weren’t made to work non-stop—so don’t. Don’t apologize to your family for working, or to clients for spending time with your family. Healthy boundaries benefit everyone, especially you! You’ll be amazed at how setting limits transforms your business and life. Don’t miss Set Work Boundaries to Work Less!
Just a Multitasking Girl
Assume your phone is out of sight and you’ve divided your day into work and non-work time to avoid distractions. You’re considering all the things you need to get done before you go to bed.
You’re likely thinking there isn’t enough time and, being only one person, you plan to juggle multiple tasks at once. You might try starting dinner, helping your daughter with math homework, responding to a client’s text, and assisting your husband with his weekend event details simultaneously. (Not that I know anyone who can manage all that at once—because it would require superhuman powers!)
Actually, that’s exactly what I did. I believed in the myth of multitasking. Guess how things turned out. The pot boiled over, the girl melted down, the text got misspelled (oops), and my hubby was frustrated that I had to ask him to repeat his question. I was that multitasking girl.
I thought that all these quick little things could happen all at once. But I was wrong.
The Myth of Multitasking
So let’s talk about multitasking. Multitasking is just what it sounds like – multi (many) tasking (doing) – doing many things at the same time.
The myth of multitasking leads you to believe you’ll get more done, but trust me, you don’t. Only computers can handle multiple tasks at once—like streaming music, downloading emails, and running a spreadsheet simultaneously. And even that’s only thanks to modern operating systems.
Machines are made for productivity. But you are NOT a machine.
When we try to juggle multiple tasks at once, our brains have to constantly switch between them, which is exhausting. Instead of being superwomen, we end up doing everything half-heartedly, being only partially present, and making more mistakes—ultimately costing us more time and effort.
Studies prove the myth of multitasking. Multitasking is actually task switching, which reduces productivity and can increase task completion time by 50% with 50% more errors. Consider how much time is lost to mistakes that could be avoided by slowing down and focusing on one task at a time. This applies whether you’re in a work block or a non-work block.
Plenty of Bread
Prov 28:19 says, “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.”
Now, I’m the first to admit I’m no farmer, but I do know a bit about growing things. You can’t set aside time to work in the garden, grab your shovel, rake, and watering can, then spend five minutes digging in the dirt—only to get distracted by weeds in the landscaping, start pulling those, prune the flowers nearby, go back to the garden for a few minutes, then realize the dog wandered off and go search for him—and still expect vegetables to be waiting the next time you check the garden.
You have to focus on the garden and what it needs if you want to see the fruit. Otherwise, you’ll have pretty landscaping and a tail-wagging dog, but nothing to put on the table, right?
Multitasking – Superpower or Kryptonite?
Multitasking is not your superpower…it’s your kryptonite. The myth of multitasking lends itself to weakening your focus and dividing your time and attention.
According to researchers, the only time you can truly multitask is when one of the tasks is fully automated, like walking on a treadmill. For example, you could read a book or fold laundry while walking on a treadmill. (I was just having a conversation with my daughter-in-law who got a treadmill to put under her desk, but I’m not sure I’m that coordinated. However, she’s finding it to be a great way to get her work done AND get her steps in).
On the other hand, trying to tackle two tasks that need your full attention at once—like reading emails during a meeting—is what we call “bad multitasking.” This is a prime example of the myth of multitasking, which can lead to missing important details in one or both tasks.
#1 Focusing Question
So, what’s your superpower for focusing your time? I’m glad you asked! It’s asking the #1 focusing question. Are you ready for it?
What is it time for? This question will not only boost your productivity but also enhance your purposivity—helping you focus your time and attention on what truly matters, beyond just checking off tasks.
This question can transform how you manage your time, whether it’s spent on devices, business tasks, or personal activities. My free screensaver (available in the Find the Time Challenge) prompts this question to help you focus on what truly matters. Even during dedicated time blocks, juggling a meeting, email, appointment, and link searches splits your focus and wastes time. Concentrating on one task at a time is more effective.
If the meeting wasn’t where you committed to being fully present, you might as well step away. If you’re helping your daughter with homework, assisting your husband, or weeding the garden, focus on those tasks only. Don’t try to make a grocery list, redesign the landscape, or walk the dog simultaneously.
What is it Time For?
Try asking this question before you start that next work block or household task – what is it time for? When you have an answer, give that person or task the time and attention it needs to produce the fruit. Focusing on one task at a time gives you back the seconds, minutes, or hours you wasted switching tasks.
Knowing what’s on your schedule, and having a clear plan to focus on what matters, helps you avoid getting sidetracked. When those unexpected things pop up, you won’t feel the need to address them immediately. That’s another reason to check out the Find the Time Challenge. I’ll show you how using an ideal week template can eliminate multitasking and simplify your to-do list. With everything scheduled properly and a built-in margin for unexpected tasks, you’ll be able to handle these without disrupting what you’re working to grow in your life or business.
You have a lot of demands on your time and a lot of distractions that are always popping up. It’s tempting to stop what you’re doing to go do something else. Or to try to do two things at once, which 98% of the time, you can’t. So why do we keep trying to?
When you’re short on time, it seems logical to throw multiple tasks into one time block to be more productive. However, this approach can make you more exhausted and actually delay your bedtime. Using the focusing question would help you complete tasks more efficiently and get to bed earlier.
One Thing at a Time
When you focus on one thing at a time, you save both time and frustration. It’s not about how much time something gets but the quality of that time. What if the tasks that fill your day could actually be completed faster if they had your full attention?
By focusing fully, you’ll be present with whoever or whatever matters most—whether it’s a family member, friend, client, coach, or yourself.
Spotlight on Success: A Client’s Story
Chesney and I have been working together for several months inside my coaching program. She recently shared this, “I no longer struggle with the frantic chasing of my calendar, allowing the over-committed agenda to dictate how I spend my time, but now intentionally slow down & enjoy what God has purposed this time for.
My daily goal is to seek what God has for me, being filled up to pour out where He has called me – whether it’s serving my family, friends, community, or clients.
I desire to give God and my family my best ‘yes‘ rather than my leftovers and trust Him as I live a WITH-God Life. God is redeeming my time and I’m no longer living with regret about how I’ve wasted it pursuing the wrong things.”
Wait, what? No regret about how you’re spending (or dividing) your time and giving God, your family, and your business your best “yes,” rather than your leftovers? When I polled women about what they really want most, hands down the top desire was being fully present to the people and things that matter most. Is that what you want too?
You’ll get back more hours in the day when you stop always checking in, stop always working, and stop believing the myth of multitasking. Watch for the next blog in this series, where we address a common doubt among business owners: whether it’s possible to build a successful business and live an intentional life. I’m here to tell you that you can—if you stop trying to manage it all. Be sure to check it out!
Redeem Her Time Community
Consider this community question. When is a specific time in your day or week you’ll ask the question, “What is it time for?” I can’t wait to hold you accountable and hear how it’s saving you time to invest in more important things. Come join the conversation inside the REDEEM Her Time Community at redeemhertime.com/community.
Before you go give your full time and attention to what it’s time for next, be sure to check out the Find the Time Challenge at redeemhertime.com/time to get your free guide + screensaver to get back hours in YOUR day as a woman juggling all the things in midlife + biz.
P.S. Watch the REDEEM Your Time Masterclass to shift EVERYTHING about how you approach TIME in both Life + Biz https://redeemhertime.com/masterclass.
Also, check us out on YouTube!
