The Pinged Hobbit

As the Net Generation begins to flex it’s wings and make it’s presence felt in the work place, multitasking is becoming more and more common. People are finding that they prefer to switch between tasks rather than concentrate on one for long periods of time. The technology in use today is only going to encourage this trend more. I am a multitasker, it is very rare that I will be working on only one project at once. As I write this post I am switching between IM windows, moving to a remote desktop to my PC at work and surfing a could of news websites. The use of PC’s is making it easier for people to multitask, with virtual desktops enabled I can have different windows open on different screens and switch between them.

Multitasking is also something I have found useful in my support work. By cultivating this skill I can hold a conversation on the phone supporting a clients problem while simultaneously working on a setup for another client on my pc. In order to be able to multitask effectively there are some habits you need to develop. Be warned thought, multitasking is not guaranteed to work for everyone. In fact in most cases it is likely that it will be more of a detriment than an advantage.

• Keep tack of where you are - This tip is useful even if you are not trying to multitask, but even more so when you are. It is important to keep track of where you are with each task you are doing, whether this is by keeping exact notes (time consuming) or by simply having a to do list with each part of each task listed as a separate item. Tick off when you have done each step. Before starting a work session I find it useful to set aside 5 minutes to construct a to do list, it gives me a clear view of what I am hoping to achieve.
• Have plenty of resources – Most multiaskers will be operating on a computer as a rule but not always. Whether you are on a computer or not it is important to make sure you have the resources to accomplish more than one task at once. If it is computing you are engaged in you are going to need a computer with plenty of guts, or better yet multiple computers. When I am working I tend to have more than one up and running, usually running one on remote desktop. If you cant have two pc’s have multiple desktops. Alternatively if like me you work on different customer databases for the same software look at setting up a virtual PC so that you can have two instances of the program up at once (try Microsoft Virtual PC, its free and it does the job well enough. On Mac you might want to look at Parallels or VMWare Fusion.
• Take a break once in a while – Breaks are important any time you are working, they give your brain chance to relax and take stock of what is going on. Sometimes taking a break can be a good way to come up with inspiration for a certain task you are on with anyway
• Don’t try to do it all the time – The longer you multitasker for the more counter productive it becomes. When I am working on more than one problem at once I tend to find I become tired faster. You are taxing your brain more when multitasking so it is only normally that you will tire quickly, sometimes you need to just stop.
• Try to have a quite environment – You are already splitting your concentration enough, the last thing you need is a conversation happening around you. This will only take your mind away from what you are trying to achieve.

The best advice I can give you is to try not to rely upon multitasking too much, most of the time it just does not work to have more than one task on the go. If you are going to multitask, then ideally it needs to be with tasks that do not need too much hard thinking. If you have a task that requires a lot of thinging it probably better to concentrate on that on it’s own