Stop Multitasking, Get More Done
The Myth of Multitasking: How 'Doing It All' Gets Nothing Done
by Dave Crenshaw
Productivity
TL;DR
This book ain't about some magic trick; it's about ditching the illusion of multitasking and embracing single-tasking to actually be productive. It teaches you to identify your "money tasks," batch similar activities, and set clear boundaries to avoid context switching, which is basically your brain doing a full system reboot every time you switch tasks. Learn to manage interruptions and schedule your focus time so you're not just busy, but actually doing stuff that matters.
Action Items
Pick one task for the next 30 minutes and put your phone on airplane mode. Just one damn thing.
Before you start your day, identify the one most important task. Do that first, no excuses.
Look at your to-do list. Find 3 similar tasks and do them consecutively without interruption.
For your next important task, turn off all notifications on your phone and computer for at least 45 minutes.
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Key Chapter
Chapter - The Brain's Reboot Cycle (aka Context Switching)
Ever feel like your brain's a browser with 50 tabs open, and you're constantly switching between TikTok, homework, and texting? This book drops the bomb that "multitasking" is a total scam. What you're actually doing is rapidly switching tasks, and every switch is like your phone rebooting. It drains your mental battery and makes everything take longer and suck more. The real tea is that focusing on one thing at a time isn't just for monks; it's how you actually get your shit done without feeling like a fried circuit board. Stop trying to be a human octopus; just pick one tentacle and get to work.
Key Methods and Approaches
Your Brain's ADHD Mode
(AKA: Context Switching)
Description:
Switching between tasks constantly makes your brain reset, wasting time and energy.
Explanation:
Imagine your brain is a cheap laptop. Every time you switch from writing an essay to checking Instagram, then back to the essay, it's like closing and reopening the same program. It takes a hot minute to load up again, and you lose your flow. Do that 50 times a day, and you've basically spent your whole day watching loading screens. It's not multitasking; it's just being inefficient AF.
Examples:
Trying to write a paper while also replying to DMs and watching YouTube.
Working on a presentation, then checking emails, then remembering you need to call someone, then back to the presentation.
Cooking dinner, then scrolling TikTok, then burning the food because you forgot about it.
Today's Action:
Pick one task for the next 30 minutes and put your phone on airplane mode. Just one damn thing.
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