The Multitasking Myth: Why It’s Sabotaging Your Productivity
You’re cooking dinner, answering emails, checking homework, and mentally running through tomorrow’s grocery list—all at the same time. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Multitasking is often praised as the ultimate solution for busy mums, but in reality, it’s the very thing that’s slowing you down.
Take a moment to reflect: How do you actually feel in those moments of juggling a million things? Are you truly productive? Do you feel on top of everything? Are you at your calmest? If you answered ‘No’ to any of these, then keep reading—you’re about to find out why multitasking is working against you, not for you.
Why Multitasking is Inefficient
When you switch between tasks, your brain takes time to refocus, which reduces productivity by up to 40%. Multitasking also increases stress levels and makes you more prone to mistakes. The myth that you can get more done by doing multiple things at once has been debunked by neuroscience. The truth? You’re more productive when you focus on one task at a time.
The Solution: Time-Blocking and Task Batching
Rather than trying to tackle everything at once, consider more efficient approaches like time-blocking or task batching. These methods help you group similar tasks together, so you can dedicate focused time to each. For instance, allocate 30 minutes solely to answering emails before moving on to dinner prep. This approach allows your brain to stay in a more productive, single-task mode, reducing stress and boosting efficiency.
Takeaway Learning: When you stop trying to do everything at once, you’ll get more done in less time and feel less overwhelmed. Give yourself permission to focus on one thing at a time, and watch your productivity soar.
Multitasking may feel like the only way to survive the chaos of motherhood, but in reality, it’s working against you. By focusing on one task at a time, you can actually accomplish more, with less stress. Imagine what it would feel like to finish your day with a sense of achievement rather than exhaustion—because that’s what happens when you ditch the multitasking myth.