Multi-tasking?..Think Again!!!

According to Wikipedia Multitasking is defined as following “In Computing, multitasking is a method where multiple tasks, also known as processes, are performed during the same period of time.  In the case of a computer with a single CPU, only one task is said to be running at any point in time, meaning that the CPU is actively executing instructions for that task” . The same holds true for human beings as well. An individual can actually perform only one task effectively at a given instant of time as long as we possess a single brain!!!

            In my humble opinion, Multitasking in human beings actually reduces effectiveness especially in the Work environment, where more and more people take pride in the capability to Multi-task. The reason can be learnt again from the Computing world. As Multitasking happens, transition from one task to the next happens through  context switch. For example, say you are busy typing an email when a colleague drops by your desk .If you start a conversation with him before completing the email, a Context switch happened from email to the conversation. It happens again, when you get back to the email, after the conversation.

Computers are so great with context switching that they provide us the illusion of working in parallel on Multiple tasks at the same time. Unfortunately with the human beings, Context switching is an issue. In the example above, the person would have to regroup his thoughts on the email and in that process would have lost some efficiency and may even forget to type an important point. This is because our brain tries to move from one task to another task. It becomes even more difficult when you are required to two different tasks which involve different mental faculty such as When you develop a Project Plan ,when you are suddenly pulled into a meeting.

While I rant about the evils of Multi-tasking, I do agree that it is here to stay in the wired world we live in .Fortunately, I think there is a solution which again comes from the computing world…Timesharing. Timesharing refers to the Central Processing Unit of Computer dedicating “a slice or block” of time to a particular task before moving on to the next. So, even when you are required to multi-task, give yourself the liberty of dedicating enough time on the particular task before moving on to the next. The quantum of time slice may vary from person to person…but for intensive tasks, I would recommend at least half-an-hour of distraction free time.  David Allen, the productivity guru,of “Getting Things Done” concept calls this as “Vertical Thinking”.So,think about a problem/task deeply enough and move on to the next and so on…

So, the next time a colleague comes calling at your desk when you are typing an important email, ask her if she can wait for some time for you to complete the email or else you would want to get back to her...

Own the BMW

“We chase money at the cost of health in the first half of life and vice versa in the second”...Anonymous 

Too often, we often use the term “Wealth” interchangeably with Money. There are two other forms of Wealth that are more important than Money…namely the Body & Mind. Body & Mind Wealth (BMW  for short) is the key to our personality development. However, in the speed age of today BMW is getting short changed in our quest of busy-ness.

You may ask, “Well, What do I need to do now?”…All you would need to do is this …”Spend ½ hour per day on toning up your body & another ½-hour on toning up your mind”. I can see quite a few raised eyebrows after reading the previous line. I always thought I don’t have time for exercise these due to constraints of work / family. But, all I am just going to say is this “You ought to find the time…because as they say in the Corporate world…”Priorties!!! Ladies& Gentlemen”.  The return-on-investment in building the BMW is too great & important to be overlooked.

So PLEASE cultivate an habit of physical & mental exercise. So pursue the physical wealth by activities that exercises your heart by

a)     Daily walking/Jogging

b)     Regular in the Gym

c)     Playing a outdoor game of your choice

On a similar vein, exercise your brain daily on activities other than your regular work. I would recommend

a)     Yoga

b)     Pursuing an hobby(reading, writing, speaking, dancing)

c)     Blue-skying (essentially doing nothing….Try it and you see how difficult it is!!!)

If you do enough to improve your BMW, you would be prepared enough to face the hurdles to build the last and the least important Wealth,Money.

"Cool Down: Getting Further by Going Slower "..Book review

Cool Down: Getting Further by Going Slower by  Steve Prentice (John Wiley & Sons)

It happened by chance for me to read the book “ Cool Down : Getting Further by Going Slower”. As blasphemous as it may sound in today’s world, the author propounds the concept of being “Slow” in the current world where Speed is everything.

The central premise of the book  is as following :

1)    “Work expands to fill the available time” .The more you are wired the more you work…

2)    “We are like a lamp store…where everything is on all the time”….The only result is a burnout

3)    “Law of Diminishing Returns is real”…your 60 hour work week does not always yield 60 hours of productivity

In essence, people are really losing the “thinking” time in the urge to do the things and act in Silos. So, the author proposes the following solutions:

1)    Stay away from the Infomania (Information overload). For example,When you want to focus on something important, inform the required people and stay away from the distractions & just focus on the job

2)    Pause,Thinks & Respond: Take the example of the emails…the general tendency of people is to respond as fast as they can to an email. While this may sound good ,people do not put enough thought into the first email resulting in “Email Badminton” where emails flow back and forth. This is where the power of “Slow” comes into effect. An effective email response even if it is delayed a bit is always better.

3)    Be Slow to be fast : So the concept of “Slow” does not meant to do things slowly, but to unleash the creativity by pacing things down. Some of the solutions that Steve Prentice proposes are

a.     Blue-skying…Just stare at the blue-sky and feel the breeze in the nape of the neck

b.     Physical Exercise every day

c.     Playing a sport that you like

d.     Or simply having Tea as a meditative exercise …just like the Japanese do

If you wonder that these are purely time-wasting techniques when things are piling up, think again. These are the rejuvenation methods for your self while your mind is still creating synapse connections. By following these techniques you are in fact toning up your mind & body to face the stresses of the day.

In my opinion, this is a great book with lot of practical tips for all of those who are in the daily treadmill of life muddled with issues of Multi-tasking, Distractions & Work-life balance.