Do you, like me, like to believe you can do two, or more, things at once?
Of course, I can! It’s easy! … answer emails while talking on the phone, do a crossword while attending a Zoom meeting, talk to someone while reading, watch TV while scrolling through Facebook, apply for an e-visa while writing a training module ….
Nothing wrong with that, it’s a good use of your time, surely!
This one thing at a time stuff is for people who don’t have much to do, who have lots of time – they can afford to do that.
Doing more than one thing, or multitasking, is conserving time. Everything gets done and is done just as well as if you did one job at a time … doesn’t it?
Well … maybe not.
Actually, it appears I can’t multitask, in fact no one really can – it is a fallacy. It may appear that we are attending to everything at the same time but in fact our brain flicks from one task to the other, so nothing really gets our full attention.
Each task only gets part of our capabilities as we continue to flick between the multiple tasks at hand. In addition to that, our poor brain gets exhausted going back and forth wondering what it is supposed to be concentrating on.
Most of the time the effects may not be obvious, at least not at first. While they may not be exactly catastrophic, the effects of multitasking can certainly add stress, confusion, and general unneeded hassle to your life.
Our brain flicks from one task to the other, so nothing really gets our full attention
We may miss what someone has said to us and answer late or inappropriately (ever said yes to someone without realising what they were asking and find yourself committed to something you had no desire to do?), a wrong word in an email or message (grrr, that autocorrect!), a missed number on a visa application….
You may guess where this is going.
Those of you who have read my earlier blogs, visited the Mental Strides website or social media pages, may be aware that I travel to India as regularly as I can. I am one of those very lucky people who can apply for and receive an online e-visa with relative ease.
So, of course, I figured I could do that while pondering what to add to a training module I was developing – key in the information, name first … now the graphic I used last week would look good here … passport number … have I covered the key messages properly? … reason for travel? … probably should talk more about anxiety here … submit application ….
It worked a treat! My e-visa was granted, quick check … yes, that graphic works well there … looks fine … success – training module finished, and e-visa obtained. ‘Piece of cake!
Until check-in at the airport on departure day …
“I’m sorry Ma’am but the passport number on your visa does not match your passport.”
Say what?
“There is a 6 missing … see?”
Oh no! There is a 6 missing there! How could I have missed that? Oh yes, well thinking back maybe I was a little pre-occupied.
“You will need to contact the Indian Government and get them to send you an amended visa.”
My visa had my full attention now!
I won’t go into the rather stressful next couple of hours. Needless to say, I did feel like I aged about 10 years during that time. However, there were some fortunate things that came my way.
Firstly, I was there four hours before the flight was due to leave, then the baggage conveyor belt taking check in luggage to the plane broke down (maybe not great for others but it gave me some very valuable extra time). The Indian Government visa crew were very efficient, taking my call and my email, and actioning it with five minutes to spare – and the check in staff from Scoot airlines (who picked up the error) got me checked in at lightning speed once the amendment came through.
All’s well that ends well … yes, but I have learnt a valuable lesson. Though I can’t say I will never multitask again, it is certainly no longer my default.
Giving my full attention to the task or the person at hand has become something I now strive for, and I must say that so far, I have found it a lot more relaxing and efficient.
Mental Strides 