The power of Monotasking, can our brain really multitask?
Monotasking is a forgotten art that we need to bring back and manifest.
Monotasking is the art of doing one task at a time, while multi-tasking refers to taking on more than one task. We often multitask for efficient workflow, attempting to meet multiple deadlines. It is essential for us to understand when to multitask or monotask.
Monotasking offers mindfulness, much better concentration, and the ability to finish work on time. Monotasking also helps to cope with anxiety and stress which are very common in our fast-paced world. Our ability to deal with tasks increases. But one needs to start early, focus on one task at a time, and stick to it till it’s done. Monotasking is hard to manifest, it requires a lot of practice and patience. There is a chance of feeling bored and monotonous, i.e., while doing your work, you are not supposed to listen to music. Monotasking is an old concept; by practicing it, we are following our ancestors. It is as effective as our brain itself, which cannot focus on several tasks at a time. We just toggle from one task to another.
Multitasking is favorable when someone needs to catch multiple deadlines. When someone has more tasks to finish then doing a part of each task seems reasonable. When you’re behind in work multitasking may seem to be the solution but it also builds anxiety and hypertension. Prolonged use of such a habit may lead to chronic health issues. But in this world, we are always bombarded with tasks that either need to be done in a short span of time which may seem like increased productivity.
For monotasking, one must understand priorities and deadlines, learn to work at a steady pace, and take small breaks to break the monotony. To multitask, taking time to relax is a must. Combining similar tasks and setting realistic goals is also inevitable.
On the whole, the brain is not setup for multitasking. Task switching means you aren’t getting the full benefit of anything. There is a cognitive need to monotask.
~Amy Brann, author of neuroscience-based books.
