Today is International Jugglers Day. Do you know what that means? This is a blog post about juggling and multitasking, project management, and juggling.
We’ve all been there. It’s when you feel like you have too many tasks to manage – answering emails in meetings, taking calls, and writing proposals for project changes. This skill is probably listed on your CV as’multitasking’.
Did you know that multitasking was first used by IBM in 1965 to describe the capabilities of their new computer. Since then, psychologists have been studying the effects of multitasking on the mind and what it means. Multiple studies have shown that multitasking is not possible because the brain can only focus on one stimulus at a time. Ineffective multitasking is responsible for an estimated $650 billion in annual US business losses.
There are exceptions to this rule. You can multitask if:
As a second nature, you are given one of these tasks. Talking and walking are two examples.
Different brain processes are involved in the completion of different tasks. Listening to instrumental music or reading is one example.
How can we keep our focus in multitasking jobs? It is important to eliminate all distractions.
Keep your desk clear
This is the simplest item in this article. However, it is crucial: Remove all clutter from your desk. Do you still have old birthday cards or promotional gifts? Ask yourself why. You don’t want to make your desk empty. But you should have enough space to work and not clutter it. This will allow you to find things easily.
Your smartphone should be turned off
You can turn your phone off if you don’t use it for work and put it somewhere you won’t see it. You won’t have to check your phone every hour to see if there is a new message or a drink invitation.
Limit your websites
Are you constantly checking the news or looking for pictures of cats? Although it may seem like a short break, this can disrupt your work flow and make it much more difficult to get back on track. Install a blocking extension to your browser like StayFocusd if you know you are guilty. You’ll soon get out of this habit and stay in the ‘zone” for longer.
Plan your day
Schedule your work day if you can. You can sit down the night before or in the morning and plan your day. Make sure to block out time for each task. This doesn’t have to be rigid. This will allow you to focus on the task at hand and make it easier to complete it faster and to a higher standard.
Allocate some time to check your email
Are you finding yourself stopping to deal with new emails every now and then? It’s not critical, even though you know it. You can turn off notifications in your inbox so that you don’t get a popup when you receive an email. You can set up a rule that will notify you only when an email arrives from a client/colleague who is high-priority or from a certain colleague.
Keep hydrated
Although it may seem odd to include this tip in a project management post. It is vital to stay hydrated throughout the day. Drinking enough fluids throughout the day can improve your productivity and help you perform better mentally and physically. How much water should you drink? The European Food Safety Authority recommends that men consume 2.5 litres of water per day and women consume 2.0 litres from a mix of food and drinks.
Return to your to-do list
Once you have completed something, mark it off your list and keep adding to it. It’s a useful tool that you can use if you don’t feel like you’re getting the job done.