We live in an age where multitasking is expected, praised, and often demanded. How many things can you do at once? Talk on the phone, check email, pet the cat, flip through the mail, check a website, work on a project, watch the news, drive the car … we frequently combine two or three tasks at once.

Well, for myself, I’ve declared a moratorium on multitasking.

I found that multitasking, because of my issue with severe anxiety, is a definitive problem. When I multitask, my stress level goes up. When my stress level goes up, my anxiety goes up. When my anxiety goes up, I try harder to get things done faster, so I multitask even more. So my stress level goes even higher. So my anxiety gets even worse. And so on, and so on.

It was, and is, a tough decision to live out. No multitasking. None.

And this is what I found:

• I get more done now than when I tried multitasking, because I can focus and concentrate better on each individual project or task.
• I enjoy what I am doing more, because I can really dig down into it and experience it to the full, instead of having half my mind somewhere else.
• I can relax more easily, because my mind isn’t always working at mach 10.

Don’t let society dictate how you work and how you live. Decide for yourself what is best for you.

© 2009 Paula Marolewski, www.SinkYourRoots.com

Like this? Read more at: 

• Fire in My Mind: Personal Insights & Practical Help for Severe Anxiety
• Articles on Anxiety

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One Response to “A Moratorium on Multitasking”

1. Leonor Pamplin says:

   January 14, 2010 at 2:25 pm

   I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.