Monitor: The Situation (or One at a Time) [#4 of 10]

The next time you visit my office,  you’ll see all you need to know about me plastered all over my shelves and walls: books, retro ads, Chicago sports paraphernalia, comic book covers, and of course motivational posters, magnets, and plaques.

I’m so motivated it’s a wonder I get anything done.

Since I’m working from home more often these days, my walls aren’t covered with motivating material, but my computer is.

And so our monitor march moves to this: One at a time.

You’ve probably seen this: multitasking is impossible.

What, you don’t believe me? You think you can learn marketing from me while scanning social media?

Fine. Then take if from someone ELSE who has published in the Harvard Business Review, psychology Professor Paul Atchley:

“Based on over a half-century of cognitive science and more recent studies on multitasking, we know that multitaskers do less and miss information. It takes time (an average of 15 minutes) to re-orient to a primary task after a distraction such as an email. Efficiency can drop by as much as 40%. Long-term memory suffers and creativity — a skill associated with keeping in mind multiple, less common, associations — is reduced.”

No matter how messy your desk is or how long your to do list is, take things one at a time. If you feel itchy or distracted then stop what you’re doing, make a break, take a breath, and start something new.

One thing at a time.

How about you? Any words of wisdom to share that keep you going?

More of your tour tomorrow.