The Art of Multitasking and Unitasking
Multitasking and unitasking aren't new concepts. Lots have been written on both subjects; you'll find passionate individuals in both camps. Multitasking is, simply put, the act of doing multiple tasks at once. Conversely, unitasking is the act of doing one (uni) thing.
This is not a post on how to do either one better. Rather, I find it fascinating that the majority of these blog posts usually love one and hate the other. So the question is: Can we love both concepts equally?
I believe we can, because I've been experimenting for the past few weeks. Just a little background, I used to fall in the multitasking camp. I would always try to do at least 2 things at once to maximize my time. Like listening to a podcast and writing some code at once.
I've gotten mixed results in the past, but I've realized one thing. The key in embracing both concepts, is to unitask for focus-intensive things, and multitask for less focus-intensive things.
When that hit me, I started changing my habits. I worked on focus-intensive stuff on its own. Any writing (of code and english) is now done solely on its own. Even if you see me with a pair of headphones on, chances are, its to let you know I'm in the zone and shouldn't be disturbed. I notice that in this way, it's easier to stay focused and get more done.
Multitasking is now reserved for menial tasks; like listening to podcasts while in the toilet, shower or on the bus. As both tasks don't require much thinking, doing them together would help you save time. I haven't gone beyond doing 2 things at once, so I don't know how it feels like doing 3 or 4 things at once.
This week, try changing several of your habits to take advantage of multitasking and unitasking. If you're out of ideas, try one of the following. Feel free to modify it to suit your needs.
- Turn off Gmail, Facebook and Twitter while coding or writing. Have non-vocal music playing thru a pair of headphones; keeps people and distractions at bay.
- Gather everything you need to think about and plan for the next month. Find somewhere quiet and inspirational to do your planning. I use a Moleskine notebook to keep track of it.
- Listening to podcasts while in the shower, walking, or commuting. Have it automatically download to your smartphone, ready to go.
- Read your news feeds while commuting with your smartphone. Having a bright and high resolution display on your smartphone really helps with the reading.
Learn to prioritize the important things and group together the less important stuff. Go on, give it a shot; you'll thank me for it.