Everything I've read says multitasking is bad, and I'm sure it often is. In fact, I've decided to make it a priority to reduce how often I multitask. I've learned from books such as Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, by Roy Baumeister, that it's best to focus on changing just one habit at a time, even if it takes a few months. Last year I first focused on driving down the number of emails in my inbox that were distracting me like a huge pile of unread paper mail on a desk. After forming new email habits, I shifted to forming a habit of consciously relaxing at least 10 times per day, even if just for a minute or two. Now I've decided to, much more often, choose mindfully as my day progresses what is my current top goal, the number one activity to which I want to devote my attention and to stop trying to do so many other things at once that I do none of them well.
But do I want to get rid of ALL multitasking? When I use the treadmill in the basement, I love to turn on the TV, log into Netflix, and watch an action movie, comedy, or other "guy flick" that I'd never be able to convince my wife to watch. I'm doing two things at once: exercising and watching a movie. But I'm enjoying it much more than if I just walked briskly while staring at the wall. Similarly, I love to listen to Audiobooks while driving to work. Two things at once. Is it multitasking? Even if it is, where's the harm?
There are purists who would say that even this multitasking is wrong. When driving, drive mindfully, with precise awareness of how the car responds to the steering wheel, taking in all the sights and sounds--going beyond paying enough attention to go from Point A to Point B and, instead, making the drive an opportunity to be present, to be mindful. Another form of meditation that leads to relaxation and calm. When walking on the treadmill, feel the muscles, the accelerated heartbeat, the deep and fast breathing. Feel the sweat.
Of course driving and exercising CAN be forms of meditation. But do they always need to be? I use other times during the day to meditate, but if I didn't listen to audiobooks in the car, I'm sure I'd never find the time to listen to them and I'd miss out on my favorite way to educate myself.
I've been trying to figure this out today: when is multitasking bad and when is it perfectly OK? I now have a theory that feels right to me:
- Multitasking is fine when your highest priority task is the only one that is consuming most of your concentration, attention, and effort. If you can do other things at the same time with little to no effort, then it can be OK to multitask.
- I can drive to work on Auto-Pilot. When I'm driving to work and listening to an Audiobook, I can apply most of my mind to the Audiobook and still find my way to work
- I can walk on a treadmill mindlessly and focus my mind entirely on the movie I'm watching.
