Multitasking actually decreases productivity and quality of work, while increasing stress levels.
Reading is a foundational monotasking activity that improves attention span and enhances productivity.
Monotasking during activities like walking, listening, traveling, and thinking can reduce stress and improve focus and creativity.
Deep dives
Monotasking: Focusing on One Task at a Time
In this podcast episode, Thatcher Wine, the author of the book 'The 12 Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to Do Everything Better,' discusses the pitfalls of multitasking and the benefits of monotasking. He suggests that multitasking actually decreases productivity and quality of work, while increasing stress levels. On the other hand, monotasking, which involves giving full attention to one task at a time, can boost productivity, reduce stress, and improve relationships. Wine explores various monotasking activities, such as reading, walking, listening, traveling, and thinking, and highlights the importance of fully immersing oneself in these tasks to reap the benefits. He encourages individuals to strip away distractions, such as smartphones and unnecessary multitasking, to strengthen their mono-tasking muscles and regain their ability to focus and be present in the moment.
The Value of Reading as a Monotask
Wine emphasizes the importance of reading as a foundational monotasking activity. He highlights how reading not only helps individuals learn and be entertained but also strengthens their ability to pay attention. By focusing on a book for even 20 minutes, individuals can improve their attention span and enhance their productivity. Wine recommends reading printed books to avoid the distractions of screens and to fully engage with the physical and tactile experience of reading. He also explores the storytelling aspect of books and how they can convey a message and shape one's identity, even without being opened and read.
The Power of Walking as a Monotask
Walking is another activity that Wine discusses as a helpful monotasking exercise. He refers to historical figures like philosophers and thinkers who have used walking as a way to work out ideas, relieve stress, and connect with nature. Wine suggests stripping away distractions and fully focusing on the act of walking, paying attention to the senses, sounds, sights, and smells. By immersing oneself in the present moment during a walk, individuals can experience relaxation, improve their attention span, and potentially stimulate creative thinking. Wine also acknowledges that walking can serve as a buffer between tasks, allowing the brain time to reset and transition more effectively.
Listening with Full Attention
In this podcast episode, Wine explores the practice of listening as a monotask. He differentiates between one-way listening, like listening to podcasts or lectures, and two-way listening, such as engaging in conversations. While multitasking can often accompany one-way listening, Wine encourages individuals to give their full attention to the audio content, practicing focused listening for longer increments. By strengthening attention through mono-tasked listening, individuals can absorb more information, spend less time revisiting content, and enhance their relationships. Similarly, Wine discusses the importance of mindful listening in interpersonal conversations, suggesting that truly listening and being fully present can deepen connections and improve relationships.
Monotasking While Traveling
Wine discusses the habit of multitasking while traveling and commuting and emphasizes the importance of monotasking during these experiences. He acknowledges the dangers of distracted driving and encourages individuals to focus solely on the act of driving for safety reasons. Similarly, he suggests giving full attention to other forms of traveling, such as commuting or leisurely traveling, in order to fully experience and appreciate the journey. By intentionally monotasking during travel, individuals can observe and absorb more details, reduce stress, and enhance the overall enjoyment of the experience.
The Benefits of Monotasking Play and Thinking
Wine also highlights the benefits of monotasking during play and thinking. He emphasizes the importance of being fully present during playtime, allowing individuals to de-stress, deepen friendships, and experience more happiness. By dedicating focused attention to play activities, individuals can fully engage in the present moment and gain more enjoyment from the experience. Additionally, Wine explores the concept of deliberate thinking, suggesting that individuals can strengthen their cognitive abilities by dedicating specific time to thinking tasks. By fully immersing oneself in thinking and problem-solving, individuals can enhance their creativity, productivity, and overall cognitive functioning.
Writing an email while on a Zoom call. Talking on the phone while walking. Scrolling through social media while watching a movie.
In both our work and our play, we’re all doing more and more multitasking. Doing two things at once makes us feel as if we’re more efficient and getting more done.
But my guest would say that all this task juggling actually makes us less productive, while diminishing the quality of our work and stressing our minds, and that we’d be better off curbing our multitasking in favor of monotasking. His name is Thatcher Wine and he’s the author of The Twelve Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to Do Everything Better. Today on the show, Thatcher explains the illusions around multitasking and the benefits of monotasking — that is, bringing our full focus to a single task at a time. We discuss why reading is a foundational part of becoming a monotasker, and then get into some of the other activities Thatcher recommends monotasking, including walking, listening, traveling/commuting, and thinking. Thatcher argues that doing things like listening to a podcast while cleaning your house isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but that you may want to try stripping everything away from your daily tasks except the primary tasks themselves to observe the resulting effect and to strengthen your “monotasking muscles” and rebuild your attention span. Once you’ve experimented with doing a task alone, you can then decide to layer back in the second activity, or, maybe decide you actually liked giving it your all.
