You can learn why task switching is bad for you and how to plan your day better so that you can be more productive and less tired. I worked with many teams and most of them say that task switching (multi-tasking is another term, not that correct) is a good and useful way of working.

1. Stop Task Switching!
Adrian Bolboacă
@adibolb
adrian.bolboaca@mozaicworks.
com

2. Topics
◊
Multi tasking
◊
Task switching
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Why task switching is bad
◊
The illusion of effectiveness
◊
Manage multiple tasks
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How to plan your day

3. Multi Tasking
[...] an apparent human ability to perform more
than one task, or activity, over a short period
Example: taking phone calls while typing an
email and reading a book.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_multitasking

4. Task Switching
Task switching is an executive function that
involves the ability to unconsciously shift
attention between one task and another.
Cognitive shifting is a very similar executive
function, but it involves conscious (not
unconscious) change in attention.

5. Task Switching
not
Multi Tasking

6. Why task switching is bad
◊
Switch cost
ҩ Slower performance
ҩ Decrease in accuracy
◊
Tired https://qz.com/722661/neuroscientists-say-multitasking-literally-drains-the-energy-reserves-of-your-brain
◊
Max 2 tasks https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126018694
◊
Unhappy Barry Schwartz - The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
◊
Reduced productivity ~25%
https://hbr.org/2012/05/how-employers-can-make-us-stop

7. The illusion of effectiveness
◊
Chronically task switchers aren’t that capable
of task switching
◊
Greater opportunity for rewards from multiple
tasks
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Perceived vs actual task switching ability
◊
Unable to block out distractions and focus on a
singular task task switching→
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0054402

8. Manage multiple tasks
◊
Create rules to prioritize
◊
Choose
ҩ when to work without interruption
ҩ When to work in a team
◊
Use concentrated time
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Leave breaks (min 15 min) between activities
◊
When tired, walk 10-20 minutes

9. Flow is boring
In positive psychology, flow, also known as the zone, is the mental state of
operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a
feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the
activity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)

10. How to plan your day
◊
Start with what you want to do today
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Prioritize your tasks
ҩ Unblock others
ҩ Guide colleagues
ҩ My high priority tasks
ҩ My low priority tasks
◊
Work on tasks and adapt / re-prioritize when
needed

11. Anti-Patterns
◊
Everything is critical to do NOW
◊
No criteria to prioritize
◊
I am efficient when doing more things at a time
◊
Start working on unclear work
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Not taking breaks the whole day
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Using chat while working
◊
Remote meeting + solving a task

12. But surprise!
◊
Tasks switching promotes creative thinking
ҩ With the cost of draining your brain
https://communicationmgmt.usc.edu/msp-resources/articles-blogs/switching-between-tasks-promotes-creative-thinking

13. Thank you!