I’m Returning to Single-Tasking

I’m Returning to Single-Tasking

By Leo Babauta

I have a confession(kənˈfeSHən) to make: despite(diˈspīt) writing books on the subject, along with numerous(ˈn(y)o͞om(ə)rəs) posts, I haven’t been single-tasking lately.

I’ve returned to multi-tasking(ˈməltēˌtask, ˈməlˌtīˌtask) and distraction(disˈtrakSHən).

I’d like to blame(blām) my smart phone (I long for the days of my sweet dumb(dəm) phone), but in all honesty(ˈänəstē) I constantly(ˈkänstəntlē) switch browser(ˈbrouzər) tabs too. I’ve been pulled by the allure(əˈlo͝or) of so many interesting things to read on the Internet, email, messaging my family, always something to check or read or respond to.

As of today, I’m returning to single-tasking.

Why? Because I think giving in to constant(ˈkänstənt) switch and distraction is a way to run away. It feels busy and productive, but it’s an avoidance(əˈvoidəns). Not just an avoidance of important tasks, but of whatever boredom(ˈbôrdəm) or bad feelings I might be having in the moment.

So here are the rules I’m going to try to follow:

One browser tab open. I want to focus on reading one thing, responding to one email at a time, doing one task in my browser at a time.

Know what I’m focusing on. When I open a tab, I have to consciously(ˈkänSHəslē) pause(pôz) and think about what I’m trying to accomplish(əˈkämpliSH).

Read to completion(kəmˈplēSHən). Unless there’s an urgent(ˈərjənt) interruption(ˌintəˈrəpSHən), if I open an article to read, I have to decide whether I want to invest the time to read it right now.

One app on my phone at a time. Just like browser tabs, I often have multiple(ˈməltəpəl) apps open on my phone, and I switch between them often.

Be mindful of interruptions & switching. I think my mind is easily distracted, so I’m going to try to practice noticing(ˈnōdəs) when I’m about to switch, and make a conscious decision to either follow or not follow that urge(ərj) to switch.

Consciously close my computer & phone. I don’t need to always be working, always be distracted, always be checking.

These aren’t hard and fast rules, but things to shoot for. I will fail(fāl) at them often, but I’m going to try to follow them for at least a week, and hopefully longer.

I’m not doing this to be more productive(prō-,prəˈdəktiv), more focused, more disciplined(ˈdisəplind), more perfect. I just want to explore mindfulness and consciousness, and not avoiding by distraction. Wish me luck!

https://zenhabits.net/single/