The Myth of Multitasking

Multitasking is productivity theater.

You know the feeling. Five browser tabs open, Slack pinging, phone buzzing with notifications, and you're trying to write an important email while half-listening to a meeting. You feel busy. You feel important. You're getting nothing meaningful done.

I spent years believing I was more productive when juggling multiple tasks. I wore it like a badge of honor. "Look how much I can handle at once." What I was actually doing was making everything take longer and doing it all worse.

Your Brain Isn't Built for This

Here's what actually happens when you "multitask": your brain rapidly switches between tasks, losing focus each time. Every switch has a cost. You have to rebuild context, remember where you left off, and get back into the flow.

Those few seconds add up. Studies show it can take 15-25 minutes to fully refocus after an interruption. So when you check that quick Slack message in the middle of writing, you're not saving time. You're burning it.

I learned this the hard way during my project management days. I thought I was being efficient by working on three projects simultaneously. Instead, I was delivering mediocre work on all three and constantly feeling behind.

The Single-Task Advantage

When I finally started focusing on one thing at a time, everything changed. Work got easier. Quality improved. I actually finished projects instead of just moving them forward incrementally.

Single-tasking isn't just about productivity. It's about doing work you're proud of. When you give something your full attention, you notice details you'd miss while distracted. You catch errors. You have better ideas.

The irony? I actually got more done by doing less at once.

How to Actually Single-Task

Start small. Pick one task and commit to 25 minutes of focused work. No phone, no other tabs, no "quick checks" of anything else. Just you and that one thing.

When your brain tries to pull you away (and it will), acknowledge the distraction and gently bring your focus back. Don't judge yourself for getting distracted. Just redirect.

I use a simple rule: one project, one document, one goal per work session. Everything else goes on a list for later.

After 25 minutes, take a real break. Check your messages, stretch, grab water. Then choose your next single focus.

The Resistance You'll Feel

Your brain will fight this. It's used to the dopamine hit of constant switching. You'll feel like you're missing something important by not checking everything constantly.

That feeling passes. After a week of deliberate single-tasking, you'll notice the difference. Work flows better. You remember more. You feel less frazzled at the end of the day.

What Success Looks Like

You'll know single-tasking is working when:

• You lose track of time while working
• Projects actually get finished instead of perpetually "in progress"
• You feel satisfied with your work quality
• That constant background anxiety about everything you need to do starts to fade

The goal isn't to become a productivity machine. It's to do work that matters, with the attention it deserves.

Start Today

Pick one thing you need to get done. Set a timer for 25 minutes. Close everything else. Do that one thing until the timer goes off.

That's it. No complex system, no perfect setup, no waiting for the right moment.

Multitasking promises efficiency but delivers exhaustion. Single-tasking delivers what multitasking promises: more done, better quality, less stress.

Try it for one week. Your future self will thank you.

What's one project you could finish this week if you gave it your full attention?

Thanks for reading!

Hi, I'm Joe. I help creators share their unique voices simply and effectively. Here's how I can help you:

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