I was reading (and re-reading) Leo Babuata‘s book Focus and I wanted to share a excerpt from chapter two (“The Age of Distraction”):
While humanity has never been free of distraction — from swatting those bothersome gnats around the fireplace to dealing with piles of paper mail and ringing telephones — never have the distractions been so voluminous, so overwhelming, so intense, so persistent as they are now.
Ringing phones are one thing, but email notifications, Twitter and Facebook messages, an array of browser tabs open, and mobile devices that are always on and always beeping are quite another. More and more, we are connected, we are up to our necks in the stream of information, we are in the crossfire of the battle for our attention, and we are engaged in a harrying blur of multitasking activity.
The minimalists strike again!
In all seriousness, I think there is something to this movement that lives by the notion that less is not just more, but better than more.
I have read Leo’s blog several times and just started reading his new book Focus.
It is available for for free in PDF format or an extended premium version with additional chapters by other experts and access to video interviews. You can get either of them here (I am reading the free version, by the way).
Although I clearly don’t ascribe to the practices of traditional Zen, I do find that multi-tasking seems to be a myth as opposed to a skill and that I spend too much time bouncing from one thing to the other instead of drilling down and making it happen.
What are your thoughts on multi-tasking? Are you a creative struggling with focus? What do you do about it?
John Saddington says
yes. i believe multi-tasking is a myth. i can’t do it at all.
Blane Young says
And if you can’t do it all, then there is no way I can do it all!
I think that multi-tasking is more about feeling busy than producing results…
Todd Miechiels says
I don’t believe we were designed to multi-task. That’s why we know we shouldn’t text while driving. I’m embarrassed to admit how often I’m typing an email to one person, while talking to another on the phone. Whether it’s ego, pride, habit, or immaturity, multi-tasking may be close to the root of all evils!
Blane Young says
I think you hit on something when you mentioned pride, habit and immaturity.
The immaturity angle makes a lot of sense in that we think we can do more than we can.
Danny Bixby says
Definitely agree that multi-tasking = myth.
There’s a lot of science behind that as well, which is contributing to this whole movement. I think eliminating these false expectations of multi-tasking (and everything that comes with it) are some great steps forward in progress.
Blane Young says
Yeah, I feel that when we multi-task, we trick ourselves into thinking that we are saving time but are indeed losing it (and focus and creativity).
You hit it on the bull’s eye, this means nothing unless people shaping the culture of our work and family environments (which may be us or our bosses) must readjust expectations in order to see change.