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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?
Oh I try to multitask all the time. Some things I'm better at than others. Cleaning house is probably a good example. Doing laundry and something else at the same time. Or packing things for the next day and my gym bag while I'm ironing clothes for work the next day. I guess those are pretty simple things though.
ReplyDeleteHouse cleaning is a good one. I didn't even think of that but you are totally right.
ReplyDeleteOh, I absolutely multitask. In fact, I have had to make little pockets of time where I only read or only watch the television otherwise I'd never get any down time! Perhaps that is why I don't like speaking ont he phone socially? It kind of requires some level of communication and concentration and I usually reserve singular moments for me (or for us when it is an 'us' moment).
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