One more hour…
Recently it seems I’ve been having conversations that frequently include “if I had one more hour…”
- … of daylight (that was a friend working on his backyard projects)
- … that I didn’t have to grade papers (obviously a teacher)
- … before I have to leave (twice actually – once the person was leaving an event, and the other was me when I had to go somewhere and wasn’t quite finished with what I was working on)
What would you like one more hour of?
Yesterday at the #salesgrowthsummit I spoke about BURSTfocus® and monotasking, today I’d like to remind you of the math.
In Dave Crenshaw’s book The Myth of Multitasking, he defined the micro-switching cost as what happens any time you switch from one activity or thought process to another.
That cost is time!
One study quoted shows that on average, each person loses about 28% of their workday due to interruptions and inefficiencies.
I was going to pretend we only switch task at work but forget it – I’m using an entire day.
24 hours – time sleeping (generously giving us all 9 hours) = 15 hours
15 hours x 28% = 4 hours 12 minutes every day we squander trying to multitask.
Every year 1533 waking hours lost; I did the math TWICE just now because that is a number unfathomable to me. I guess it makes sense; 28% of 365 days in a year = 102.2 days lost. AND just like that I’m feeling a little sick to my stomach.
Let me remind you – it’s not all at once, in fact it’s probably less than 5 minutes each time… squandered.
Even if we cut those switch tasking moments in HALF; we get back 2 hours and 6 minutes EVERY – SINGLE – DAY.
In case you missed them yesterday here are my Tactical BURSTfocus® Tips to get you started:
- Pick how much time you will mono-task
- Choose a task that will take NO longer than 1 hour… how long will it actually take? Now schedule it.
- Stop when that time is up
- Even if you’re NOT done, when the time you’ve set for your BURSTfocus® session is over, STOP. Get up and stretch – you’re teaching your brain that it is responsible to focus for a finite period of time.
- Build your BURSTfocus® Muscles
- The more you actually mono-task and stick to one thing – the easier it becomes. Just like working out to become physically stronger, we have to work out our brain and retrain it to F O C U S.
- Music can help you concentrate!
- There is a whole Chip off the Block on this alone
- Use an Accountability Partner
- I always find it easier to make myself do something… when someone else knows about it! If you feel the same way, choose an accountability partner for your BURSTfocus® sessions.
The key is to realize the myth of multitasking isn’t working for you anymore… and change how you’re working!
Congratulations, you’ve gotten the one more hour you were looking for.
Still working on it myself,
Lynn
ps: if you need help creating successful BURSTfocus® sessions to reclaim those squandered hours, drop me a note! We’ll do it together.
Comments (0)