I'm Losing My Touch
There was a recent "study" conducted, or rather an unscientific assessment, that said multitasking hurts productivity. Especially for people under 30 who have grown up in a society that demands multitasking.
It's true that I have grown up multitasking and trying to do so much at once. Even starting in elementary school I learned how to do homework, chat on IM, and watch Full House simultaneously. This carried on throughout high school and only worsened in college. My mom used to make fun of me while on the phone with her because in the background she could hear me pounding away on a computer keyboard while downloading music and finishing a 10 pg English paper.
As I sit here now typing this out I have 1 Excel spreadsheet, 3 Word docs, 2 PDFs, 2 Powerpoints, AOL IM, Gmail, Outlook, 5 web site pages and Google searches open. I'm "working" on multiple assignments at once because this is almost the only way I know how to work. If I could carve out 2 hrs to focus on and bang out a media list it would be a miracle, but I know I will be interrupted by an IM or new RSS feed or e-mail from a client. I think this definitely affects productivity - but what is the solution??
Maybe it means starting small with eliminating the least important distractions. Like my music player. But wait...I get hyped up and motivated listening to music. I turn on some RHCP or Amy Winehouse - who by the way is PHENOMENAL AND SEXY AND CRAZY AND DRUNK AND COOL - and I feel like I work better. Maybe cut out the IM? But then undoubtedly a co-worker will e-mail and say, "Well I wasn't going to e-mail you but you weren't on IM or Gchat..." Grrrr. What's a modern multitasking, everything-to-everyone girl supposed to do???
It's true that I have grown up multitasking and trying to do so much at once. Even starting in elementary school I learned how to do homework, chat on IM, and watch Full House simultaneously. This carried on throughout high school and only worsened in college. My mom used to make fun of me while on the phone with her because in the background she could hear me pounding away on a computer keyboard while downloading music and finishing a 10 pg English paper.
As I sit here now typing this out I have 1 Excel spreadsheet, 3 Word docs, 2 PDFs, 2 Powerpoints, AOL IM, Gmail, Outlook, 5 web site pages and Google searches open. I'm "working" on multiple assignments at once because this is almost the only way I know how to work. If I could carve out 2 hrs to focus on and bang out a media list it would be a miracle, but I know I will be interrupted by an IM or new RSS feed or e-mail from a client. I think this definitely affects productivity - but what is the solution??
Maybe it means starting small with eliminating the least important distractions. Like my music player. But wait...I get hyped up and motivated listening to music. I turn on some RHCP or Amy Winehouse - who by the way is PHENOMENAL AND SEXY AND CRAZY AND DRUNK AND COOL - and I feel like I work better. Maybe cut out the IM? But then undoubtedly a co-worker will e-mail and say, "Well I wasn't going to e-mail you but you weren't on IM or Gchat..." Grrrr. What's a modern multitasking, everything-to-everyone girl supposed to do???
posted by VP of Dior at 10:35 AM
I get bored only doing one thing at a time. The pressures and demands of our generation has ruined our ability to focus. No wonder we all have A.D.D.
Smoke some crack, crack solves all problems.
i'm tripping cause you were im'ing, while watching full house - how old are you again . . . did im exist then? i feel old as hell.