THIS BLOG POST IS WRITTEN BY GUEST CONTRIBUTOR, JEFF DAVIDSON, "THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE EXPERT®".

Have you ever attempted to work on a document, however, while cruising the Internet or talking on the phone? You don't accomplish much, and time mysteriously disappears. Worse, often you feel as if you haven't done your best. Multitasking is promoted as an efficient way to meet the complex demands of managing an association and accomplish more in the same amount of time. 

In both your personal and professional life, attempting to do many things simultaneously can actually have the opposite effect; it makes your work less efficient and contributes to stress, and, maddeningly, it leads to more multitasking.

A human being is not a computer. Computers can multitask with ease; operating system is capable of running any number of programs without sacrificing accuracy or peace of mind. Computers are specifically built to handle more than one task at a time; you are not. While there are some low level tasks in which you can multi-task, such as eating and watching television, for professional editors doing client work, multi-tasking is a an idea whose time should never have come.

It's all too easy to fall into a familiar trap: "So much is expected of me, I have to double and triple my activities." Nevertheless, if you attempt to multitask at home or at the workplace you're likely to mess up something in your day or week.  So how are you supposed to fit in all of your daily tasks without getting so stressed out or frustrated that you cannot finish any?  The answer is: less is more.

Multitasking is Costly

Research shows that multitasking seldom enables people to accomplish more, if you take long run view.  A study published by American Psychological Association's Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, conducted by researchers Joshua Rubinstein, Ph.D., David Meyer, Ph.D.; and Jeffrey Evans, Ph.D., found that the effects of multitasking can actually be counterproductive.

The primary cost of multitasking is, ironically, the very thing that workers are often desperate to save – time. "People in a work setting, who are banging away on word processors at the same time they have to answer phones and talk to their co-workers or bosses – they're doing switches all the time," says Meyer. This inability to concentrate for even 10 or 20 minutes at a time may be costing a company as much as 20 to 40 percent of its income. The researchers refer to this as "time cost." The solution? Do one thing at a time.

Want to continue receiving leadership in local government tips on a weekly basis? Subscribe to Leadership {RE}Imagined.

Related Resources:

Stressed Out? Tips on Lowering the Stress Level of You and Your Staff

4 Brain-Saving Tips to Cut Stress and Boost Productivity

5 Tips for Working Smarter