Deliberately single-tasking — when possible — is an excellent way to unhurry. Single-tasking slows down your mental pace while improving focus and speeding up your actual output.
In fact, our brain is not designed to process two cognitively demanding tasks at the same time. When you rapidly go back and forth between tasks, it quickly leads to mental fatigue, anxiety, and a feeling of being perpetually rushed.
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Although you might feel more productive when multi-tasking, research shows that it can lower your efficiency — and thus, productivity — by up to 40%, and increase the time it takes to finish your task. Moreover, because you’re continuously restarting your train of thought, you’ll not only work slower but also make more mistakes.
I say “single-tasking when possible,” because I mean that you can easily start implementing these behaviors in your own environment — beginning right at home. Home is truly the best testing ground. Later on, you’ll find ways to practice it outside your walls, whether at work, while shopping, or even during your leisure time.
So, instead of washing the dishes while listening to a podcast with headphones on, try not to divide your attention. Just wash the dishes. Focus on doing it right and concentrate on the task. This mindful presence will also make you more available to the people living with you.
Alternatively, eat your breakfast without checking the news or scrolling on your phone. Enjoy your meal, even if it feels a bit boring at first without the extra distraction. When sharing breakfast with a friend, partner, or your children, focus entirely on eating and connecting. No phones, no books, no television — absolutely nothing else.
Another example: consider sweeping the house. Keep sweeping without interrupting your momentum to throw laundry in the washing machine or make the beds. Do just one thing at a time and focus entirely on it. Don’t think about what comes next. Concentrate, stay present, and sweep as consciously and meticulously as you can.
Single-tasking is a habit within your reach, and it will immediately quiet your mind. Experiencing this newfound calmness firsthand is incredibly rewarding; it naturally motivates and reinforces your desire to single-task.
