The Effects of Too Many Tasks

Games, forums, social media — the list of distractions is endless. There is, however, a far-less obvious disruptive element that takes time away from your current task at hand. The answer? Other tasks.

Some of us are easily impressed when we use technology effectively. Today’s smartphones let you send emails, read documents, organize files and access a myriad other functions, all relatively at the same time.

In most cases, the knowledge that other tasks are just a click away drives you to frequently check your emails or update a file that you’ve been working on for the past week; yet throughout this process, you’re constantly working on something else. Your focus is then divided, forcing you to adjust your schedules and deadlines, driving down your productivity and efficiency.

The Right Way to Multitask

An important of aspect of multitasking is knowing when it is ideal to do several things all at once. To help with your initial strategy, consider the following elements when planning your calendar.

1. Prioritize and delegate.

If you have multiple projects to complete, you should always make it a point to put the urgent tasks into a checklist. Then you can tick off each accomplished task one at a time.

2. Consider cloud computing.

Set up your office in the cloud. Software and office tools can easily be accessed through business networks and cloud computing solutions. This model of access to office operations will let your employees focus on one task at a time, which makes it easier to track the progress of each project.

3. Ween yourself from multitasking, altogether.

If you have figured out how to organize your projects and business obligations, then you shouldn’t have to resort to multitasking that much. The tendency to do too many things at once usually happens on impulse, and it’s important to unlearn the habit early on before it takes a toll on your productivity.

In addition to improving your mental capacity, avoiding circumstances that lead to multitasking can help to develop better control over one’s own well-being and emotional health. You get frustrated less and you feel rewarded when you achieve business milestones. Now that you have additional information about the intricacies of multitasking, you can now start contributing more to your company’s performance.

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Christopher Allen Samson is passionate about utilizing technology such as Cloud Solutions to improve well-being and the office environment. He does research on current tech trends and analyzes how they can be applied to simplify our lives. You may follow him on Google+. He encourages readers to check out Data#3’s website.