Monotasking vs Multitasking – The Best Trick For Productivity
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Monotasking vs Multitasking – The Best Trick For Productivity
We have all heard the phrase “Work Smarter Not Harder”, but there’s a second phrase that is just as relevant which says “Don’t Be Busy, Be Productive”.
Productivity is one of those terms where we all understand the concept. We have so many reasons to want to be more productive in our lives! But how do we actually become more productive?
You may be starting a blog or your own business and need to be more focused. You may want to be more productive as a student, a parent or just needing to get your life a little more organised working from home. Learning how to utilise monotasking can make such a difference to how much work you are able to get done.
Monotasking is such an amazing tool for anyone who wants to improve their concentration and focus.
It is key for those who wants to get more done in less time and for anyone who wants to stay consistently productive, but without the feeling of overwhelm.
If you find you are unable to focus at work, unable to concentrate on your own tasks at home, and are wanting to get more work done in less time and be consistently productive, then monotasking may just be for you!
Finding yourself unable to focus on work can be so frustrating!
Knowing how to get more done in less time and make your day productive can be a game changer.
If you have a hard time staying focused on work or find that you jump between tasks – even without meaning to – then I completely understand as I struggle with this too.
I wrote a post not too long ago on ways to stay focused and those absolutely still apply, the trick may be to use those ideas while also trying out monotasking!
Everyone works differently and has different things that work for them, if you’re one of those people that need extra help to focus (like myself), utilising the tools mentioned in that post and in this one may help a lot as it did me!
What Is Monotasking
Monotasking is also known as single-tasking – both of which are good descriptors!
The definition of monotasking literally means to do one task at a time.
It’s where you focus on one thing at a time and once you have given full focus to one task, only then do you move onto the second task.
This could be until this one task is fully completed, or until the time allotted to that specific task has elapsed.
At any point in time during your working hours (or studying hours if you are a student), you will only put your focus on one task at a time.
It sounds simple and in theory, it is!
As with anything though, it can take time to really be able to monotask efficiently and effectively.
The key with monotasking though is that you dedicate all your focus to this task (or as much focus as is possible depending on your situation).
In this day and age nearly everything is a distraction – including other tasks!
We are all striving to get as much done as possible.
Most of us probably think we are better at multitasking than we realistically are (in terms of tasks that require a lot of focus).
It’s been proven that people often are a lot more productive and get a lot more finished when they are able to focus on one task at a time.
The important part of monotasking (to do it properly), is to minimise as many distractions as possible.
A lot of people believe that they are expert multitaskers but research has shown that attempting to multitask has a huge impact on productivity. It can decrease your productivity by up to 40%!
Keeping your focus on just that one task and eliminating external distractions lets your mind get fully absorbed into it and can really help the amount of internal distractions. In turn this means you can get that task completed and can then move on.
What Are The Benefits Of Monotasking?
The main difference between monotasking and multitasking is that with monotasking you focus on one task until completed/a set time has passed. Multitasking is trying to complete all tasks simultaneously.
Even just written down, monotasking sounds like the ideal way to be more productive and get more done in a day!
When we multitask it’s not often that we are physically actually doing more than one thing at once. What we are actually doing is jumping between different tasks, without finishing one before moving on to the next one.
We aren’t as focused when multitasking as our attention is split between all tasks.
You are so much more likely to miss details and make mistakes when multitasking.
Giving your full attention to one task means your mind is focused on that one task, so you’re much less likely to make mistakes or miss out any important details.
Some benefits of monotasking vs multitasking would:
It helps you to improve concentration and focus.
You are able to focus at work more – be it at a job or on your own business/tasks.
Monotasking allows you to get more done in less time.
It helps you to be more consistently productive and become a more productive person overall.
Monotasking vs Multitasking – Why Does Monotasking Work?
Often through no real fault of our own, our default mode is to try and either do lots of different tasks at once, or get distracted with various things going on around us.
It’s how we have been programmed to work and behave, constantly jumping between tasks, feeling like we are getting loads done but actually achieving very little.
By the end of your working/school day you may feel you have been really productive, and that’s great! But how much more could you have gotten done today by monotasking instead of multitasking and giving each task your undivided attention?
Internal vs External Distractions
I wanted to add this point in as it’s relevant to the above points on getting distracted.
We all get distracted – that is a part of life – but some people get more easily distracted than others.
The difference between internal and external distractions is that external distractions are the things that catch our attention, while internal distractions are the things that distract from inside ourselves, e.g. emotions, feelings and thoughts.
Ways to help with external distractions could be;
Telling those in your home that you’re going to be busy for X amount of time and only to disturb you if it’s urgent.
Putting your phone onto “do not disturb” or turning off notifications.
Walking your dog before starting your task so that they will (hopefully) be asleep.
Getting a big bottle of water to keep yourself hydrated.
Internal distractions can be a little tricker, especially for anyone with things on their mind.
Some ways you can help internal distractions could be things like;
Practising meditation before starting your task.
Reminding yourself how much better you will feel once this task is completely done.
Using things like fidget rings as a small outlet but that doesn’t take over. (Some fidget type toys may be too distracting so stick to smaller objects like the rings.)
The key to monotasking successfully is setting yourself up for your success.
Get your environment and surroundings sorted (as much as possible) to give yourself the best chance for uninterrupted work time.
How To Use Monotasking To Have A Productive Day
You may have gotten to this point and thought that monotasking sounds like it would be an amazing tool for you to be more productive, but how does it work in a real day-to-day scenario?
This of course will look different for everyone depending on if you work in or out of the home, if you work for yourself or for someone else, if you have children or pets etc.
Your day may look a little different when you conciously choose monotasking vs multitasking.
The main things to focus on here are the times in the day where you can put as much focus as possible on one task at a time.
Write Down The Main Tasks You Need To Complete
Either that morning or the night before, make yourself a list of the top few tasks you want to accomplish the next day. The ones that are non-negotiables.
Don’t try to put 14 things on this list!
Aim for around 3-6 things depending on the time you have and the size of the tasks.
Block Out Time To Complete These Tasks
You will most likely have a rough idea how long tasks will take you, so make sure you block out a suitable amount of time.
If you aren’t sure at all how long they will take, block out a set amount of time.
If you get the task completed – amazing.
On the other hand if you don’t get it completed, you have still worked on it for the set amount of time you allocated and are now that much closer to having it be completed.
You can either block out small amounts of time over the day, or you can plan your whole day out into different blocks of time, depending on what you are working to accomplish that day.
Adapting it to suit yourself and your life is key, but the ideal behind it is the same – to be more productive and be able to focus more with work.
Meditate For 5-10 Minutes Before Starting
If you really struggle keeping focus, you may find that meditating can really help to clear and calm your mind before you start.
Let The People In Your Office/Home Know You Need Time To Focus
This may well be trickier if you have small children, a puppy, or work in an environment where you can’t shut yourself away to focus for that set amount of time.
You will find you can get a lot more completed in 30 mins of complete undisturbed focus than of 2 hours disturbed focus where you try and multitask.
Listen To Music
If you are able to put headphones on to zone out to the outside world, this can also help so much.
This was one of the huge tips talked about in the post: How To Get a Killer Blog Post Written In 1 Hour Or Less
You will know what sort of music helps you to be more productive and focus more at work.
It may be something upbeat/with a good beat, it may be classical music, or even heavy metal!
The genre of music is a personal choice, the important part is that it helps you to focus on the tasks in front of you.
Things to help you focus
Monotasking is an amazing tool to help you be more productive, but as with anything, it takes practice.
As mentioned above the key is preparing yourself BEFORE you sit down to complete your tasks.
In this post there are ways to help you stay focused overall, but the items below are more specific to helping you stay focused while monotasking.
There are amazing things you can get to help you to improve your focus!
Try one or a combination of these ideas to help you focus and become a lot more productive:
A Visual Timer
Timers like these are perfect for those that need a visual note of the time in front of them!
If having the time counting down in front of you helps, these would be perfect.
Cube Timer
A different type of timer is a cube timer.
Cube timers are perfect as they have different set times on each side and you can just flip it over to the time needed at any given time.
Planner
Planners are perfect for anyone trying to be more organised and get more done in a day.
They allow you to not only map out what needs done, but also when things can get done.
If you’re looking to become more productive, a planner is an ideal tool to help.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
A pair of noise cancelling headphones can help you focus more on the music than anything going on around you.
It allows you to absorb the sort of music that motivates you, but blocks out external distractions, making them the ideal work item!
Do Not Disturb Sign
This one is a little gimmicky but also may make people think twice before disturbing you, but getting a little “do not disturb” sign may just help in giving you that time to really focus.
Fidget Rings
Fidget rings (and fidget toys in general) can really help in providing that mild focus that in turn helps you focus on the task at hand.
It can work in a similar way to music, in that if you need that bit of distraction/stimulation but without it taking over, getting small fidget toys can help this.
My fidget toy of choice for keeping my mind focused are fidget rings, as they are small and not overly distracting, but do provide that movement which can really help.
Large Water Bottle
Staying hydrated will definitely help to keep your mind focused.
Having a large water bottle next to you while you work can really help remind you to drink and can help not give you any excuse to have to leave whichever task you’re working on.
Those are the main differences between monotasking vs multitasking. Hopefully you now also see why monotasking is the best way to be the most productive in the day.
Monotasking is ideal for either short amounts of time or you can carry monotasking through your entire day.
Have you heard of monotasking before?
Do you think you can add monotasking into your daily routine instead of always multitasking?
Do you find any of the above products helped you?
Let me know in the comments below!
Speak soon!
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65 Comments
According to Chren
We completely agree that monotasking is better for productivity!
Katherine McLee
It works so well – much better than I initially thought it would when I first heard of it!
Kara
Having ADHD, these are great tips!! I’m definitely looking into that cube timer!
Katherine McLee
It’s a great invention as all you need to do is turn it to the side you need and it sets itself! Thank you!
Whitney Stewart
This is great advice as always! I’m not a procrastinator, but it never hurts to pick up a few tid bits here and there to make sure I don’t start! Thanks so much for sharing!
Katherine McLee
Absolutely, sometimes the smallest tips can make the biggest difference! Thank you!
Karen Kasberg
Monotasking is something I am working really hard on. It is definitely more productive for me, I just need to get better at doing it. lol
Katherine McLee
It’s not as easy as it sounds but can make such a difference! Practice is key lol
Rosie
Monotasking works better for me. I cannot multitask because I end up not accomplishing anything.
Great article, as always!
Katherine McLee
Monotasking is a great tool. I think so many of us try and multitask but it really isn’t as effective as we would like to believe lol. Thank you so much!
Just Kadia
Hi Kay, amazing! Once again, great job. You’re so on point we have to be sure that we’re practicing how to enjoy life more. These are great suggestions to help in the process.
Katherine McLee
Thank you so much! It can really take the stress out of things!
Drew Alexander Ross
Loved the breakdown of this post! Making a checklist and blocking time are huge tools for me in monotasking. Thanks for sharing 🙂
And the time cube sounds perfect for creative writing!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Checklists are amazing lol blocking time can be a game changer! It can be tricky to focus initially but is so worth it! 🙂
Jennifer
I love these tips! This subject is huge for me… I’ve been talking about the myth of multitasking for years! I love the timers and am going to have to buy one. And this was a good reminder to turn some calming music on. I used to do that when I first started blogging, and somehow I’ve gotten away from it. Thank you!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! It’s hard as so many of us have been conditioned to think that doing multiple tasks at once is the most productrive way to be when it’s now been shown that it’s not at all! Having music on can really help!
Janet Oberson
I always thought I was a good multitasker but I think I’m becoming a better monotasker!
Katherine McLee
I think we all feel like we get more done when multitasking but it’s rarely the case!
JamieAdStories
I believe you have to get one job completed before the next.
Katherine McLee
Absolutely! It’s been shown this is the best way to be our most productive!
Leslie
Oh my gosh, I have to monotask or I’d be running around even more like a chicken with my head cut off (such a weird saying). I do use the Pomodoro method though. I’m a bottle, cup, and mug queen. I just purchased the water bottle, hah.
Katherine McLee
I love a good water bottle lol! The Pomodoro method isn’t something I’ve tried as I am a little worried that I will get distracted in those 5 minutes and it won’t wory – but will give it a try and see how that goes too!
JOHN MULINDI
I sometimes multitask but I prefer monotasking as it is more productive and I don’t get distracted easily.
Katherine McLee
Absolutely! Giving a task your full attention is the best way!
Isabella dorgu
You know, I never thought about the word “mono tasking” before. Interesting concept of seeing things from this angle. I absolutely agree that it is something more productive to focus on one thing than getting distracted by others and end up not doing anything!
Katherine McLee
That’s exactly it! I think so many of us try to multitask but just end up junmping between lots of different tasks without ever completing that many! Monotasking lets us complete all the tasks – in less time!
Liv
Great read. Think I’ll try this at work tomorrow. It’s so easy to multitask and do a million things without completing them!
Katherine McLee
Let me know how you get on! It can be tricky to begin with but really works so well!
Fransic verso
I didn’t know the term Monotasking but I know about focusing on one task. These are interesting cool products to use as well.
Katherine McLee
Thank you! It’s a good term and as a practice can really help us to get more done in less time!
Not-So-Modern-Girl
Great post! I like the idea of monotasking. I often start one task, and then move onto another one, and then another. Sometimes, I need to concentrate on one thing at a time and not split my focus. Thank you 🙂
Katherine McLee
Thank you! That’s exactly like me! Then we stop half way through, forget we haven’t finished bits or run out of time lol! Monotasking really helps get everything completed in a shorter amount of time! 🙂
Marian Fink
I am guilty of trying to multi task, especially with 4 kids. I love your practical steps. I use a fidget spinner ring to help and am trying to chunk out time to be completely focused!
Katherine McLee
The fidget rings are great aren’t they! Blocking out sets of time is such an amazing way to get things done, it can be tricky but is worth it!
Literally Laurie
I need to monotask more often! I might to be stricter in how I approach my writing. Apprecated your advice.
Katherine McLee
Thank you! It takes practice but it’s a good habit to get in to as it means we can get so much more done in less time!
Julie Russell
Great post! You did a great job explaining monotasking, how it works, and why it’s better than multitasking. It’s so true that we get distracted, end up doing everything at once, and not be as productive as we could be. I will have to try this method, thanks for sharing! I look forward to reading more articles!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! We often feel busy/productive when we are multitasking but don’t actually get much done! Let me know how you get on trying it! 🙂
Tania
Great post! We have the visual timer shown in this post and find it to be extremely helpful!
Katherine McLee
It’s really handy to see the time left! I’m so glad you find it helpful!
Dee
Great tips! I definitely need to try practicing monotasking. I’m always so busy but I swear it seems I get nothing done!
Katherine McLee
It’s so easy to spend so much time being so busy but not actually being able to tick many things off of your to do list! Monotasking helps in that you consistently tick things off one after the other! 🙂
Pauline Stephens
What a great post. I have learned to monotask over the past few years and its changed everything about my workflow. I used to praise being able to multitask until I realized how stressing it was on me. Monotasking is the way to go and yes I use music to help me complete each task at a time. Thank you for sharing all these tips!
Katherine McLee
Thank you so much! It’s such an amazing way to be more productive isn’t it! Stress is a good way to describe the feeling of trying to multitask but not actually getting anything completed! I’m a big listener of music too!
Nia
Really great ideas! Having a timer and playing music helped me a lot in college. great tips thank you for sharing this wisdom!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Sometimes the simplest solutions show the biggest results!
Whitney Stewart
I’ve never even HEARD of monotasking before! The things I learn while blogging! Lol! But seriously this is such a good way to stay proactive, without feeling like you have to scam it all into in day or one shift. Thanks so much! I’ll be holding onto timhis for future use!
Katherine McLee
It can be an absolute game changer! It takes practice but can definitely help! Thank you!
Olivia
Monotasking is such a great idea but can definitely be difficult putting into practice. Thanks for providing so many ways to minimize distractions which can help so many be more successful with monotasking!
Katherine McLee
It really can be tricky and everyone’s situation is different. Being able to practice monotasking can really help!
Melanie
A really informative read. I’m more of a multitasker but now i’m thinking I should give monotasking a go!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Absolutely try it! Let me know how you get on!
Deanna | Life By Deanna
Love this! Multi-tasking is just not productive (at least for me) so I often do this type of work. I like the products you mentioned too. Great things to try!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Multi-tasking very much feels productive without actually being productive where as monotasking helps to get tasks completed!
Debbie
I struggle with staying focused on one task at a time. A fidget ring sounds like the perfect option to facilitate monotasking. Great suggestion!
Katherine McLee
The fidget rings are amazing as they aren’t a massive distraction but definitely help! Thank you!
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Pantea
I love this article!!! What has helped reduce my stress and anxiety especially when I feel overwhelmed and trying to multitask is to write everything down via a brain dump and then prioritize my tasks. I use the timer suggestion that you have and that helps tremendously! I recommend following all of Katherine’s suggestions in her post and if you’re still feeling overwhelmed here are 8 things to do-tips from a therapist! https://pantearahimian.com/8-things-to-do-when-your-life-feels-overwhelming/
Katherine McLee
I’m really glad you loved it! 🙂
bunfuns
I love listening to music when I monotask, and then I’d be so focus that I tuned out my music as well.
Katherine McLee
Music is amazing to get you into the right frame of mind! Getting fully into “the flow” is the ideal! 😀
Elvis
I have to say, the practicality of your post is just gold! I started using clockify to track how I’m spending my time and hoping to keep myself from distractions
Katherine McLee
Thank you!! Being aware where your time is going is a HUGE thing as often we have no idea until we make a concious effort to track/make note of it! Only when we know where the time is going can we reallocate it to more productive things! 😀
Kathy
LOVE this! I used to hire people where I worked before retirement, and almost to a person they had “great at multitasking” in their resumes. That was a red flag to me!
I have that exact cube timer you show and use it all the time. I’ll be sharing your post in my FB group!
Katherine McLee
Absolutely! I think with some things multitasking can work but the idea of jumping from one task to the next “trying” to get things done just doesn’t work! The cube timer is great isn’t it!! Thank you! I hope it helps others too! 😀