How to Improve Multitasking

Efficient time management is all about using time wisely, because daily living can often be busy, hectic, disorganized and chaotic. You only have 24 hours in a day, so do all that you can to make the most of it. One way to do that is by mastering multitasking, which involves doing more than one thing at a time.

Instructions

• 1

  Think honestly about how many activities you can take on successfully in a day. Make sure not to overcommit, as too much multitasking can reduce the quality of your performance and even lessen your productivity. Multitask just enough so that you can conserve time and stay interested in your activities.

• 2

  Prioritize. Make a list of all your daily obligations. Go through the list and rank the tasks from most to least important. Then group similar tasks together, to make the most of your time. For example, if you need to conduct follow-up phone calls for job interviews at work, group that task with other phone-related matters, such as setting up meetings for your boss.

• 3

  Set the stage for multitasking. Before you begin, gather all the necessary tools and materials so that you can move quickly from task to task. If you want to highlight important passages of a work-related text right after making phone calls, for example, make sure that you have highlighters at hand. The last thing you want to do is waste 10 minutes looking for highlighters in your desk.

• 4

  Establish time limits. Create mental time slots. For instance, if you need to order office supplies, tell yourself that you will focus on that work for one hour. Then, write out what your next task is and roughly how long you will need to work on that. If you know you need to finish something within a specific time range, it will be easier to get productive and keep working.

• 5

  Give every task your deepest concentration. Multitasking cannot be an excuse for doing things halfheartedly. Place all your attention on the work at hand by putting thoughts of the other things on your priority list out of your mind.

• 6

  Go for brief breaks. Multitasking can be overwhelming, so it is important to relax occasionally through breaks, whether you go outdoors for a short walk or have some coffee. Take a little time in between jobs to collect your thoughts and clear your head. The short break can be all that you need to energize and get back into working at full force.