Time
Managment Skills That Beat Multitasking - 3 Tools for Personal
Effectiveness & Stress Reduction
by Paula Eder, Ph.D
Time management is important, and productivity is at a premium - why not multitask?
Multitasking works against you for activities requiring focus. Tests performed by the American Psychological Association in Washington D.C. conclusively prove:
- Each time you switch your attention, you lose ground. The more complex or unfamiliar the task, the harder it is for your brain to make the transition. The more often you switch, the more time you lose, and the more stress you generate.
- A half second delay can kill you. Only a half second of time lost to multitasking can mean the difference between life and death when you use a cell phone while driving. That is all the time it takes for a car not completely under your control to travel far enough to crash.
- With all complex tasks, multitasking wastes time even when it appears to increase efficiency.
Fortunately, there are time management techniques for increasing productivity that work in harmony with how the brain functions. They are excellent stress management techniques, as well.
These 3 Essential Time Management Techniques Work Better Than Multitasking:
-
1. Task
Templates:
- Create outlines of complex but repetitive tasks for speedy reference. Don't waste energy relying on your memory or reinventing the wheel. Use task templates and watch your personal effectiveness soar.
- Jot down projects that need templates as you think of them. The more you work from templates, the more uses you will find for them.
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2.To Do Lists:
- Prioritize in advance, and label accordingly.
- List tasks in small, workable chunks.
- Only include what you can realistically accomplish for each day
- Use a weekly to-do list for the remainder of tasks.
- At the end of each day, review and adjust the lists
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3. Boundaries:
- Create times you do not want to be disturbed in order to work on complex projects.
- Call on others' support in advance to protect your interruption-free time.
Learn to use each of these powerful tools effectively and consistently. Incorporate them into your daily routine. By enhancing your focus and effectiveness with templates, to-do lists, and boundaries, you enjoy additional benefits from stress reduction.
© Copyright Paula Eder, PhD
What other ways can you improve your life with time management techniques?
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Website: http://www.thetimefinder.com
Looking forward to meeting you on the inside,
Kimberly
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