Let’s get one thing out of the way: I am not judging you, but multitasking is just doing several things poorly at once. I have walked through the valley of the multitaskers. I have answered emails while reheating coffee, folded laundry while listening to a webinar I didn’t actually absorb, and tried to cook dinner, check texts, and wipe the counter—all at the same time. Spoiler alert: something burned, and it wasn’t just my patience.
We’ve been sold this idea that multitasking is a skill. That it’s something to brag about, like, “Look at me go—I’m juggling flaming chainsaws while blindfolded!” But let me tell you, most of the time? It’s just a fancy way to do a bunch of things halfway.
You Think You’re Saving Time, But You’re Actually Leaking It
Here’s what actually happens when we multitask: we switch back and forth between tasks. And every time we switch, we lose a little brainpower, like a leaky faucet of focus. Studies have shown it can take 23 minutes to fully regain your attention after a distraction. Twenty-three minutes! That’s enough time to vacuum a room or question all your life choices.
So while you think you’re being efficient, you’re actually just creating little sinkholes in your schedule.
It’s like trying to mop the floor while the sink is still overflowing. You’re technically doing something, but you’re also making a bigger mess.
Multitasking Makes You Tired and Cranky
Your brain was not designed to do seven things at once. It’s not a circus performer. It’s more like a careful librarian trying to keep everything in order. Every time you yank it from one thing to another, it sighs dramatically and loses its place in the card catalog.
That’s why multitasking makes you feel scattered, frazzled, and weirdly angry at the laundry basket. It’s not just that you’re doing too much. It’s that your brain can’t figure out what deserves attention, and suddenly everything feels urgent—including the snack you forgot you were eating.
Do One Thing Well. Then Another. It Works. I Swear.
I know it feels uncomfortable at first. Slowing down seems counterintuitive when you’re drowning in a to-do list. But the truth is, single-tasking feels like a deep breath. It gives your brain room to focus, finish, and feel like a rock star instead of a raccoon in a caffeine frenzy.
Try this: Pick one thing. Set a timer. Do that one thing and nothing else until the timer goes off. Even if it’s just ten minutes. You’ll be shocked at how much progress you make and how much calmer you feel.
It’s not flashy. It’s not showy. But it gets the job done without burning your metaphorical toast.
Try This:
Write down three things you want to get done today. Instead of juggling them all at once, tackle them one at a time. Finish one, check it off, then move to the next. Your brain will throw a party, and you might actually enjoy your own company again.
Live with intention,
Coach Linda
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