Earlier this week, Stanford released a study confirming that we humans don’t multitask well – http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/august24/multitask-research-study-082409.html.
Though it has been in vogue to claim to be a great multitasker for years now, we all know, deep down, that it just isn’t possible. It never has been. Picture the ’50s image of “father” behind his paper at the dinner table grunting out responses to questions posed by his gathered family. That was never trotted out as the model of success for family dynamics now was it!?
People like Dave Crenshaw were early to this party with his book The Myth of Multitasking. Yet, if you think back over the years, it’s really obvious isn’t it? When was the last time you were in someone else’s office and they were talking with you while also responding to e-mails? How about the last time you were talking to your kids while they watched their favorite TV show? Rewarding wasn’t it!
But the really good news here is that (1) Stanford has finally validated what common sense has demonstrated forever (but common sense never had the same pedigree) and (2) all of us who felt inadequate because we knew, deep down (again), that we weren’t good multitaskers can now breath a big sigh of relief.
For those of you wondering what to do next with this information, well, I guess my recommendation is to try QuietSpacing(tm). It is a productivity methodology based on the premise that a quiet working environment mentally and physically will result in greater productivity and satisfaction!
© 2009, Paul H. Burton. All rights reserved.
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1 Comment
So true Paul. I have told my readers for quite a while now that I am a “recovering” multi-tasker. In the past few years there have been a number of studies that prove that multi-tasking just does not cut it. We ultimately get less done and with weaker results when we try to do too many things at once. It took me many years and ill health to learn there was a better way.
To your success!
Stephanie
Productive & Organized – We’ll help you find your way! tm
My Tai Chi instructor would also agree — quiet working environments for our bodies and minds create better results with health and more.
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