Multi-tasking: Redefined

You cannot do two things at once– or can you?

Multi-tasking is the result of “self-initiated interruptions in the performance of an ongoing task” (Adler & Benbunan-Fich, 2013).  In other words, a person chooses to stop one activity to engage in another. This makes the term ‘multi-tasking’ a bit of a misnomer– many researchers that study this phenomena more accurately refer to it as ‘task-switching’ behavior.

These interruptions may be internally motivated– void of any external trigger– or they may be initiated in response to an electronic alarm, email notification, boss, spouse or other external trigger, encouraging us to stop what we are doing and shift our focus to another activity. In today’s ‘connected’ environment, people are more distracted than ever due to a constant barrage of buzzes, chimes, and alerts emanating from our cell phones, tablets, and computers in response to our many social media connections, multiple email accounts, electronic calendars, and the like.

Several weeks ago, this blog addressed this very topic in a posting that encouraged readers to ‘Disconnect and Engage’.  Today’s post encourages readers to redefine the concept of multi-tasking.

Multi-tasking, as commonly defined, occurs when a person frequently switches his/her attention among a variety of tasks, projects, or assignments within a specified period of time, as opposed to remaining focused on a singular task and seeing it through to completion.

All of us ‘multi-task’ at times– quite frankly, many projects simply take too much time to be completed in a single, dedicated block of time; however, too often the completion of important tasks, which could be most efficiently completed in a dedicated window of time, are interrupted by more urgent priorities or completed while ‘simultaneously’ performing a routine task. This constant refocusing of our attention is a distraction that hinders our personal productivity and, very often, negatively impacts the quality of our work.  In extreme cases, it even jeopardizes our personal safety– have you ever sent a text or checked your email while driving?

Consequently, one’s ability to remain focused on the task at hand may improve productivity, the quality of output, and even ensure our personal safety (and perhaps the safety of our loved ones).

‘Task-switching’ should not be used interchangeably with ‘multi-tasking.’  Instead ‘multi-tasking’ needs to be redefined as activities that positively impact multiple aspects of human wellness simultaneously. In other words, ‘multi-tasking’ occurs when we engage in ‘power activities’– activities that make our lives substantially better in multiple ways.

As previously discussed, there are seven dimensions of human wellness– physical, emotional, social, educational, vocational, financial, and spiritual (please refer to ‘Seven paths… one life’ for additional detail). And, readers have also been encouraged to ‘let your ‘spirit’ be your guide’ when establishing priorities regarding the investment of the 168 hours with which we are each blessed within any given week (see how ‘Life is Fair’).

The purpose of this post is to encourage readers to recognize, prioritize, and engage in ‘power activities.’

Many of us attempt to juggle multiple priorities– getting to the gym 3 – 4 times per week (to maintain our physical wellness), putting in extra time at work to advance our career (vocational wellness), attending an evening class at a local university (educational wellness), or maintaining a Friday evening date with our spouse (social wellness).  While we engage in these activities in an effort to enhance our lives; they often end up adding stress and strain to our ‘over-scheduled’ lives.

Perhaps instead of trying to squeeze more activities into our already busy lives, we need to simplify our lives by scheduling fewer activities– making certain they are activities that impact multiple dimensions of human wellness simultaneously– the ‘power activities.’

For example, rather than going to the gym 3 – 4 times per week and maintaining a Friday night date night, perhaps you and your spouse commit to cycling or hiking together every Saturday morning while reducing the number of visits to the gym. Or, rather than simply reading a book of interest, join a book club that reads and discusses books of interest. This ensures that you set aside time to engage in meaningful activities that contribute to multiple dimensions of human wellness. The more dimensions of wellness positively impacted by any given activity– the more ‘powerful’ the activity.

Mark Mitchell, Chair of the Marketing, Hospitality and Resort Management Department at Coastal Carolina University, is a mentor that always encouraged me to focus on ‘triple-win’ activities.  Since college professors are required to engage in three (3) specific activities– teaching, research and service to the community– he always encouraged faculty members to engage in research projects that also improved our teaching while simultaneously benefiting University stakeholders or other members of the community. Such research projects were considered by Mark as the ‘perfect trifecta.’

In my current academic environment, I participate each semester in our University’s faculty and staff book club. The club is led by our Associate Director of University Ministry; participants read a book that explores some aspect of human spirituality (from a different perspective each semester), which we get together to discuss over lunch every-other week.  It is a ‘power activity’ that positively impacts the spiritual (due to the topics of the books selected), social (since we are expanding and deepening relationships among campus colleagues), emotional (since reading is an activity that improves our mental/emotional wellness), educational (we always learn something new from the books and subsequent discussions), and physical dimensions (we always enjoy a healthful lunch during our discussions) of our personal wellness.

‘Power activities’ are not difficult to fit into your schedule since– once you identify the specific power activities that are most meaningful to you– you quickly recognize their many benefits.  ‘Power activities’ enhance the quality of your life and, quite simply, life feels less fulfilling without them. Consequently, they quickly become a priority.

So, ‘Disconnect and Engage’–– and ‘multi-task’ with ‘power activities’– perhaps you can do two things (or more) at once!

Reference

Adler, R. F., & Benbunan-Fich, R. (2013). Self-interruptions in discretionary multitasking. Computers In Human Behavior, 29(4), 1441-1449. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2013.01.040

Let your ‘spirit’ be your guide

It gives your life purpose…  motivates you…  encourages you…  brings clarity in difficult situations…  and provides hope.  Your spirit is that tiny voice that dwells deep within you…  narrating your life… and guiding you through the joys and challenges experienced each day.  It may stir up tears of compassion or make your heart dance for joy, working deep from within to guide you to live a life well lived.

While there are seven dimensions of human wellness that we each must nurture– physical, social, emotional, educational, vocational, financial, and spiritual– it is the spiritual component of our human condition that must be allowed to ‘take the lead.’

Far too many of us fail to appropriately nurture our spirit– to invest the time necessary to answer life’s most important questions in a way that ‘works for us’– individually.  While we fill our lives with activities– long days at work or school, updates of our social media feeds, trips to the gym, and quick stops by the grocery store– our spiritual life often languishes.  We fill our days with ‘urgent’ priorities– attempting to address our vocational, educational, financial, social, emotional, and physical needs– while perhaps failing to address the truly ‘important.’

Award-winning author and contemporary philosopher Karen Armstrong opens The Case for God (2009) sixty-five feet underground with a description of hieroglyphics found on the ceiling of a cave that were painted by our Palaeolithic ancestors seventeen thousand years ago. These findings are just one of many that illustrate the basic human need to find an answer to the age-old question– what is the purpose of human existence?

Everyone must answer this question– those that fail to do so will live a life in which something is missing– a void will exist– an emptiness.

This is not a question of religion, although specific religious traditions are utilized by many to help find an answer; however, even if one finds a religious tradition that seems to present a framework that establishes a plausible explanation for human existence–or that provides purpose in one’s life– questions will remain. And we must each investigate these questions and wrestle with our doubts– attempting to reconcile the often conflicting messages, emotions, and experiences encountered along life’s journey.

Take time to read, pray, meditate, and discuss with others what feeds your spirit. Write down your innermost thoughts– identify what fills your life with hope and meaning. One cannot travel along seven different paths simultaneously– instead we must each blaze a singular trail– that allows us to nurture all seven dimensions of human wellness– while our spirit navigates the journey.

Seven paths… one life

One cannot travel  seven (7) different paths at once.  Consequently, we must each blaze a single trail that allows us to enjoy a life well-lived.

There are seven (7) dimensions of human wellness– physical, spiritual, emotional, social, educational, vocational, and financial.

Take some time to assess your personal wellness relative to each dimension:

Physical:  Are you in good physical health– do you eat a healthy diet, get regular exercise, and are you able to enjoy a variety of physical activities?

Spiritual:  Is there meaning and purpose in your life– do you take time regularly to contemplate life’s purpose– does it really all end with a “slow ride in a hearse?” (with due respect to Books & Dunn).

Emotional: Do you respond to events in your life reasonably and rationally– do you feel generally optimistic and positive regarding your future?

Social:  Do you have strong, mutually-beneficial relationships with others– both family and friends– do you have a support network and, at times, provide support to others?

Educational:  Do you have the education that you need and desire to achieve in order to accomplish your personal and professional goals– are you engaged in education as a lifelong process?

Vocational:  Do you enjoy work that you find rewarding and meaningful– does your work leverage your strengths, while positively impacting the lives of others?

Financial:  Are you able to fulfill your current financial obligations and invest for your future– are you on the path to financial freedom?

These seven dimensions of wellness are inter-dependent. For example, it is difficult to build mutually-beneficial relationships if one is not emotionally healthful. And, vocational wellness supports emotional, social, and financial wellness, while a solid spiritual foundation will provide the hope necessary to persevere through virtually any difficulty encountered in life– regardless dimensions of life impacted by the calamity.

Attempting to ‘balance’ these seemingly competing priorities may be counter-productive– packing our calendars with too many activities, never-ending ‘to do’ lists, and filling our lives with stress and feelings of inadequacy. Consequently, we must not merely ‘carve out’ time for activities that contribute to each dimension– rather we must each establish routines that allow us to integrate meaningful activities into our daily lives in order to enjoy a life well-lived.

Please take a moment to share the power-activities in your life– activities integrated into the normal rhythm of your life that simultaneously contribute to multiple dimensions of human wellness.

Disconnect and Engage

Technology is a fabulous tool… it keeps us connected to family, friends, and business associates; however, it can also be a distraction, preventing us from achieving our goals, ambitions, and full potential.  How many times have you started working on an important task and were interrupted by a ‘buzz’ from your smart phone?

As soon as you pick-up the phone and respond to the text or email message, social network post, or incoming call you have “lost control” of your most valuable resource– your time!

In a previous post, I suggested that how we invest our 168 hours per week (24 hours X 7 days) ultimately determines what we achieve in our lives– the quality of our relationships and physical health, our professional accomplishments, and much more. Consequently, we must ensure that we invest adequate time each week to engage in the variety of activities necessary to enjoy success in each of the seven dimensions of human health (more on the seven dimensions in future posts).

To maximize your personal productivity, commit to ‘disconnecting’ from your smart phone, email, and other technology, for at least one or two hours daily, and fully ‘engaging’ in the important activities that you know you ‘should do,’ but rarely find the time to actually accomplish– this is critical to realizing your dreams!

In my time management and personal productivity workshops, I challenge my participants to set a goal each night before they retire for the evening– the goal should outline one important task or activity that they plan to accomplish the following day. The task should be an important task, not an urgent task.  An important task is one that makes a significant difference in one or more dimensions of your personal health (please refer to Stephen Covey’s ‘time management matrix’ to learn more about the difference between ‘important’ tasks and ‘urgent’ tasks).  Once the goal is established, power-down all of your technology and get a good night’s rest.

In the morning, DO NOT power-up your technology until the important task has been accomplished.  Wait a minute, you say, “That’s IMPOSSIBLE!”

For some of us, it may be difficult to commit our morning hours– perhaps you have a busy morning schedule or long commute to work or school. If that is the case, find some ‘me time’— an hour or two each day during which you can commit to disconnecting from technology and engaging in the accomplishment of your previously established ‘important-task-of-the-day.’ Strive to invest in yourself with ‘me time’ a minimum of 4 – 5 days per week.

You will be AMAZED by the increase in your personal productivity and the goals that you will be able to accomplish. After all, don’t you deserve to invest 8 – 10 hours of the 168 hours available within your week to realize your dreams?

Please share your ‘disconnect and engage’ success stories in the remarks section below.

Life is Fair

Success in life, however defined, is determined by how well we each invest our time. Hence, the title of this blog site, One68, represents the product of 24 and 7. When it comes to time, life is completely fair– we each have 24 hours per day and 7 days within each week, which translates into 168 available hours to accomplish our goals and objectives for any given week.

The goal of this blog site is to share my life experiences, discoveries, and insights– and to encourage others to share their own– in an effort to create a dialogue that encourages each of us to lead more productive, meaningful lives.  Whether the established goals are personal or professional, one can only achieve these goals by devoting the time and energy necessary to ensure our success; however, any number of distractions and ‘urgent matters’ may lead us astray.  How do you avoid distractions that prevent you from achieving your goals?

I look forward to your participation in our conversations.

Welcome to 2017– let’s each start the new year with a productive week!