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Multitasking is defined as the behavior of doing more than one task at a time. Since small business owners wear so many hats, they often fall into the pitfalls of multitasking!
Today, let’s first look at some published articles about the downfalls of multitasking – then I’ll share my tips of how I quit multitasking.
Table of Contents
Great Articles About Multitasking
- Why Multitasking is Bad for Your Brain
- Reasons to Stop Multitasking
- How Multitasking is Killing Your Brain
- Bad Effects of Multitasking
Ok, I think you’ve got the point – now let’s look at how I quit multitasking.
How I Stopped Multitasking
Time Blocking
Just like you, I have a full schedule. I work full time on this blog, Cutting for Business. I also shoot photography jobs several nights a week. I have four kids – who each have extracurricular activities most nights of the week.
The only way I can accomplish everything each day is through time blocking.
This means that I write out my day in time blocks. For example, I block out an hour for laundry, an hour to check emails, an hour to create cut file designs, and so on. When the hour is over – I stop the task and move to the next. All of my block times have singular, specific tasks in them.
I’ve written more about time blocking.
Scheduling Make Up Time
This was a mistake I made when I first started time blocking. block scheduling – I didn’t leave time to catch up on anything that I didn’t get done in the scheduled block. I now block off make up time daily.
Turn Off the TV
I’m guilty of having the tv on if I’m home by myself. However, when I’m working, I turn the tv off so I am not trying to focus on more than one thing at a time.
Put the Phone Away
During my work time, I turn on Do Not Disturb on my phone. My phone settings allow phone calls from each of my kids cell phones, schools, and immediate family members to get through – but everything else is sent to voicemail.
I also find it helpful to let immediate family members know my working hours and ask them to contact me outside of those hours.
Sign Out of Social Media
Let’s face it: Social media is easily to get sucked into. First, it’s a cute video of a cat. Then, some dance viral dance videos, then an ad for Amazon. Without realizing it, you look down and you’ve spent 45 minutes mindlessly scrolling.
To prevent wasting time on social media, I routinely sign out and only stay signed in when I am actively on a network.
If you are finding it tough to sign out of social media, use your phone’s settings to put a limit on social media apps like Facebook or Instagram.
These 5 things have made it easy for me to stop multitasking. I’ve noticed that by focusing only on one task at a time, I get more done in less time.
Tell me in the comments, are you a multitasker?
Since 2015, Christine Schinagl has been helping crafters start and run craft businesses through her blog, Cutting for Business. As a Silhouette and Cricut crafter herself, she has a unique take on what works and what doesn’t work in the craft business world. She also enjoys teaching other crafters how to create digital SVG designs, available through the Design with Me series.