ONE OF THE GREATEST MYTHS OF THE PAST 30 YEARS is the belief that any of us who has ever achieved any level of success has done so partly because we’ve mastered the art of multi-tasking. I don’t think so …
Despite our best efforts at multi-tasking, and despite the fact it’s right there as a bullet point under “Skills” on our resume’ or listed on our LinkedIn profile, we have no more mastered multi-tasking than we’ve found a cure for the common cold, figured out exactly why yawns are contagious, or why it is that we sometimes have odd dreams involving people or things we haven’t thought about in years. A friend of mine’s sister said she once dreamed she’d fallen in love with, and was blissfully married to, a strip of … bacon. Go figure!
Sure, we’re able to juggle multiple tasks in a set period of time, pinballing from one to the other then back again. But at what cost? In recent years, researchers have concluded multi-tasking is a misconception, not a reality. A Stanford University study states there are very real cognitive costs when we attempt to multi-task:
“ … research has shown that when people switch between tasks, there’s often a ‘Cognitive Penalty’ in terms of time and mental energy. This is called the ‘Switch Cost’, as the brain needs time to refocus on the new task, which results in slower performance and decreased accuracy. When switching tasks, part of our attention remains on the previous task. This concept, known as ‘Attention Residue’, reduces efficiency, especially when frequent task-switching occurs.”
Another study [University of London] found that multitasking could temporarily lower our IQ by 10 points, similar to the effects of sleep deprivation or marijuana use. And a more recent study specifically calls out diminished productivity when multi-tasking involves computers and smart devices which certainly applies to all of us in 2024.
So where am I going with this …?
Success Routines
Now that we know multi-tasking isn’t really a thing, it becomes very important to create our own “Success Routines”, habitual behaviors that yield greater focus, as well as higher levels of productivity and excellence. Discipline is the foundation of all success routines. It helps us build consistency, improve efficiency, and reduce the stress we may feel when there is much to be done and little time to do it.
Routines also help us establish a rhythm that leads to consistent progress. Success doesn’t typically occur overnight, so routines provide the structure necessary to steadily work towards established goals. We’re not just doing the same thing each day over and over, we’re doing it at increasing levels of excellence. Repetition, repetition, repetition … success! [Rinse and repeat.]
When repetitive tasks evolve into comfortable established routines, we conserve time and mental energy since we have eliminated the need to rethink every step. We act more instinctively and intentionally which leads to achievement.
And knowing what to expect each day also helps reduce decision fatigue and stress. Routines are like guardrails or lane stripes on our own personal highway. They’re familiar and they guide us forward, ensuring we’re always headed in the right direction. When we follow a set routine, we spend less time worrying about what needs to be done next.
Each New Day
For years, I have put my daily workout routine on my calendar. It’s a regular reminder that my day is not a success without carving out time for my physical health. The very act of entering something on a calendar, written or digital, that I already know I will do reinforces my commitment. It’s an acknowledgement that working out is a priority and it reminds me to honor that priority.
Silly as it may sound, I also assign a specific time for daily lunch. When we work from home, as most of us do at least part of the time these days, we have a tendency to work through lunch, save it for later then suddenly it’s late afternoon. And if I’ve scheduled lunch with a friend or business colleague, I abide by a strict, pre-set time frame [i.e., 60 minutes max] then it’s on to the next priority. We also often forget to build in time for a quick break, to simply get up from time-to-time, stretch, walk outdoors and breathe some fresh air which rejuvenates us, etc.
Another thing I like to do is block out time to read each day, whether it’s an online blog or article, a business book, or a novel. Reading stimulates my brain while relaxing my body, and I’d like to believe reading each day makes me a smidge smarter or more knowledgeable than I was yesterday.
We’re on the cusp of that time of year when everything gets a little busier. OK, a lot busier. We may think work slows as the year winds down but the reality is, work continues and there’s also year-end close-out activity if you’re on a standard fiscal calendar. Plus, we will soon have myriad family and social obligations, personal travel, shopping and cooking and wrapping that all come with the holidays. In November and December and then at the onset of the New Year, we’re busier and more distracted than ever. More reason to follow a success routine!
Routines can sometimes feel mundane and perhaps a bit monotonous, but they help us move towards a predictable outcome. Doing the right things the right way at the right time, over and over again, keeps us on track to achieve our goals – personally and professionally. The key thing is to simply get started. Just Do It as our friends in Beaverton have told us since 1988, or like the ancient proverb states: The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. That first step and the second and the third and the final one are equally important but none more important than setting a goal, getting started, and sticking with it.
What are some of your success routines? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Cheers!
Kenneth Jones
