What is single-tasking (and is it better than multi-tasking)?

You’ve heard of multi-tasking, or the ability to work on different things at once. Perhaps you’re of the mindset that multi-tasking means you’re more productive, hard-working, and highly motivated by goals. Productivity experts and corporate leaders in the past few years have promoted multi-tasking as a goal in itself to strive for, believing that it creates a more efficient and well-rounded employee who can get more done in less time.

However, everyone approaches task management differently: the opposite of multi-tasking, aptly known as single-tasking, is worth reconsidering. Here, you focus on completing one task or assignment at a time, giving it your full attention before moving onto the next item on your agenda. What is single-tasking, and can it be more effective than multi-tasking?

Are you a multi-tasker?

Today’s fast-paced work environments rely on increasing productivity: with more to get done in the same amount of time, we almost expect multi-tasking to be a basic skill in the workplace. The ability to multi-task reflects how good we are at time management, which is crucial to succeeding in one’s personal and professional life.

If you’re a multi-tasker, you might be assigned more tasks that come in at different intervals. Colleagues may recognize you as efficient and accomplished, and your scope of work may be broader if you’re known for your multi-tasking abilities. This is because you’re focused on several activities, which may encompass multiple topics or areas of expertise.

Furthermore, your level of productivity can vary. For example, you might be assigned more difficult or long-term tasks at the same time as daily work. It’s up to your time management skills to know how to prioritize tasks, split major projects into manageable components, or finish assignments quickly before moving on to the next one.

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Finally, multi-tasking can stimulate the mind by giving you something new to focus on. If you’re mired in one difficult project, having another aspect to shift to can eliminate distractions, eventually helping you develop techniques to thrive in fast-paced environments.

The benefits of single-tasking

By contrast, single-tasking means that you follow one assignment directly to the end, giving it your all, before moving onto the next one. Because of this, single-tasking may improve your focus on what you need to accomplish.

Some further benefits of single-tasking include:

Improved focus on tasks. By giving just one project your entire attention, you can improve your focus on it and produce effective results.
Increased prioritization. If you only have one task to handle at a time, it gets automatically prioritized because it’s immediately at the front of your mind.
Increased mindfulness. With just one task to focus on, your brain can focus all of its resources on the single task, reducing the potential for distractions and errors.
Tasks that align with your expertise. If you’re known as a single-tasker, your colleagues trust you to do a thorough job based on your experience and expertise. Therefore, your scope of tasks may be smaller and more direct.

In addition to the type of work one’s expected to do, there are also psychological effects related to the debate of single-tasking vs. multi-tasking. Constant multitasking can lead to mental and emotional stress because it requires the brain to continually shift its attention and focus. This leads to an increase in the stress hormone cortisol, which can harm your overall well-being both on a daily basis and in the long term.

“If you’re a multi-tasker, you might be assigned more tasks that come in at different intervals. Colleagues may recognize you as efficient and accomplished, and your scope of work may be broader if you’re known for your multi-tasking abilities.”

When to multi-task and when to single-task

Nobody is limited to exactly one category: we are all multi-taskers at times, while other times we have the time and availability to focus on just one task. Here’s when to single-task instead of stretching yourself across multiple projects or tasks:

When you have advance notice. If you get a heads up on a task’s overview and deadline, you may decide to plan and prepare to single-task for a certain amount of time in order to get it done.
When you have an urgent deadline. You can prioritize your multiple tasks and focus on projects with the most urgent deadlines, while putting everything else on the backburner.
When you have an important task to complete. If your project is a top priority, you can commit to single-tasking on this single project in order to give it your full attention.

Everybody works differently, and the single-tasking vs. multi-tasking debate reflects this variety. If you haven’t found your best workflow yet, explore these tips for setting realistic goals, developing essential job skills, or managing projects effectively.