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May 26, 2008

The Multi-Tasking Myth

Multi-tasking is good isn't it. Get twice as much done in half the time! Cram more activities into your day!

Wrong. Multi-tasking makes us less effective beings.While we are being encouraged to do more and more with advanced tools, the truth is it is preventing us from performing effectively.

Consider this:
Brain activation for listening is cut in half if the person is trying to process visual input at the same time. A recent study at The British Institute of Psychiatry showed that checking your email while performing another creative task decreases your IQ in the moment 10 points. That is the equivalent of not sleeping for 36 hours—more than twice the impact of smoking marijuana.

Turn off the twitter, eliminate the email, shun the sms, ban the Blackberry. Do one thing at a time and do it well.

This one piece of advice has made an enormous impact on my life. It can help reduce your daily work / desk time from 8 to 2 hours. It can improve the quality of your output and lead to a much happier, less stressed existence.

Try it.

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Comments

I was making a search for perfect life and found your blog!
It's good to aim at perfection,in this world of chaos...and my personal way was to search for the ultimate goal of life: where no anxieties are present...
Most people think that they have the secret..but when their life is analysed,it's an ocean of sufferings...
In this lifetime,we can still lead a nearly perfect life..if we have a guide...
I'm now 100% vegetarian [preferably organic],avoid alcool and sexual life,all leading to sisasters;I also live a simple life,with no monetery greed :I am a seeker of Truth:

http://varnasrama.org [perfect villages]


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