The four years I worked as the spokesperson for the FBI in Northern California were the busiest of my career. I’d spent the previous twenty years as an agent investigating counterintelligence and espionage cases. But, when I entered the world of public relations, I encountered an onslaught of deadlines and demands that never let up.
The environment was intense, and the number of small but urgent tasks was high. One would think that in this type of situation, the ability to multi-task would be a desirable skill. But science has proven that multi-tasking comes with a steep price.
That is not good news for those pressured to do many things during our day. While multi-tasking does not help our productivity, there are hacks to help us through the never-ending-to-do list.
The same questions pop up: How can I get more done? How can I feel less overwhelmed? How can I ensure I’m not dropping important balls or missing important deadlines?
Here is why multi-tasking is a myth and 4 tips to help you focus:
1. Switch between tasks
The first published use of the word “multi-task” appeared in an IBM paper describing the capabilities of a new computer in 1965. It was never meant to refer to human tasks.
