“Multi-tasking is dead. It never worked and it never will. Intelligent people love to sing its praises because it gives them permission to avoid the much more challenging alternative: focusing on one thing.”
~ Timothy Ferriss
Do you agree with this quote? Why or why not?
If it’s true, I’ve now been given permission to relax and do the next thing. Our society expects us to go full-throttle and multi-task, but working like that causes the weirdest attention deficit in me. Either that, or schizophrenia (my apologies to the institute of mental health and all its members). Oh, to settle down with a glass of my peach iced tea and write my thoughts out - that’s the way I roll. Not always possible, I know. Distractions pull at us all. But when I devote full attention to the task of writing, I do a much better job.
That’s my story, anyway, and I’m sticking to it.
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on September 24, 2008 - 9:31 am
I can multi-task, if I must. But, I much prefer doing one thing, and then moving on to the next. Or, finishing a stage in on project, leaving it to mellow while moving to start the next one . . . because for me, my projects need time to sit, to gel . . . helps my perspective (and sharpens my editing pen!). So, having a couple working, in various stages, is productive for me, and beneficial to the project.
If I try to do more than my time allows, it’s a mess. Nothing gets done well. I’m dedicated to slowing down.
I confess distractions are a way of life for me, and sometimes the best way to help me focus is for a tight deadline to be set by the client.
on September 27, 2008 - 11:46 am
Vicki,
I totally agree with that quote, especially if you are a creative person. Doing too much will take away from doing the very thing you are inspired to do. That is what I like about the book “Chapter by Chapter” by Heather Sellers which I mentioned in my blog. She gives us permission and advice as writers to stop being a joiner and socializer and seclude yourself and just get that book done. When it is done you can take a break and get out there and do a few things. She said that she heard once that John Updike was interviewed and it was discovered that he didn’t even know who Madonna was! Good for John Updike.
Wendalyn