Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Multitaskers Unite!


Random picture: OBX, NC

There are some people who believe that multitasking is a myth. They think that a person's perceived ability to do more than one thing at a time and do those things well is, well, untrue. On the other side of the coin, there are people who believe that they can do more than one task at a time, give each task the attention that it needs, and complete each task on time and satisfactorily. I happen to be in this camp. As a mom, student, business owner, and sometimes single parent, I have to be able to multitask or nothing gets done. There are times when I'm doing things for myself, personally, while completing tasks for clients at the same time. Or I'm conducting research for a paper while having my eye on Facebook. When I'm watching TV I am always doing something else at the same time whether it's internal planning in my head or crocheting the Oldest Child's blanket that I promised her. However, there are certain things that I have to devote my attention to 100%.

For instance, if I'm reading, I am definitely NOT paying attention to whatever you're saying to me. I may even respond to you out loud, but I have no idea what you said or even what I just said to you. Same thing goes if I'm typing. I have to pay attention to what I'm typing or whatever I'm saying will make no sense whatsoever. I also have a really hard time paying attention to a phone conversation if I'm doing something else at the same time.

So, do you believe in multitasking or do you think people are just fooling themselves into believing that they can do more than one thing at a time?