The Multitasking Myth: Why Doing Less Makes You More Productive
For years, I thought I had cracked the code to getting things done.
I was a multitasker—a master of spinning plates.
✔ Answering messages while debugging code.
✔ Cooking dinner while listening to a tech podcast.
✔ Planning my week while pushing a stroller.
I convinced myself this was peak efficiency.
Turns out, I was dead wrong.
Multitasking isn’t a productivity hack. It’s a scam.
And worse? It’s been sabotaging my brain for years.
The Hidden Cost of Doing It All
We live in a world that worships multitasking.
🖥 Job descriptions praise it.
📈 Productivity gurus preach it.
📱 If you’re not multitasking, you’re “falling behind.”
But science—and my own experience—beg to differ.
Multitasking isn’t actually doing two things at once.
It’s rapid task-switching.
And every time you switch, your brain pays a price.
- Jumping between Slack messages and writing code? You’re not doubling your output—you’re introducing micro-delays that slow you down.
- Checking your phone while spending time with family? You’re mentally buffering between two worlds—never fully present in either.
I used to think multitasking kept me ahead.
But it was actually the thing keeping me stuck.
I was always busy but never truly productive.
Then, I read something that hit me like a brick:
“The ability to single-task is becoming a superpower.”
And that’s when everything changed.
So Here’s What I’m Doing Instead
I’ve started embracing single-tasking like my productivity depends on it—because it does.
1. Time-Blocking 2.0
I used to schedule my day down to the minute.
It only made me stressed when things didn’t go as planned.
Now, I align tasks with my actual energy levels:
✔ High-focus work when my brain is sharp.
✔ Low-focus tasks when I’m running on fumes.
It’s about working with my brain, not against it.
2. Digital Decluttering
I used to think a million open tabs meant I was working hard.
Nope.
It just meant I was distracted.
Now, I:
✔ Close unused tabs.
✔ Write down what I actually need.
✔ Handle tasks one at a time.
If something’s important, it goes on my Notion board.
If it’s not? It’s gone.
3. The “One-Tab Rule”
If my brain wants a second tab, it means I need a second task slot later—not now.
This was tough as a developer.
I’m used to juggling:
✔ Documentation
✔ Stack Overflow threads
✔ My IDE
But once I stopped, my focus got sharper.
4. Thinking in Depth, Not Breadth
Instead of half-absorbing five articles, I read one properly—and actually retain something.
✔ No more fake productivity.
✔ No more information overload.
The result?
✔ Deeper focus.
✔ Lower stress.
✔ Better work.
✔ Actually being present in my own life.
The Takeaway
We’ve been sold the lie that multitasking is the key to success.
But what if the real key is the opposite?
Imagine a world where we:
✔ Stop bragging about being busy.
✔ Start taking pride in how well we do one thing at a time.
Imagine how different life would feel.
I’m not perfect at it yet.
I still catch myself falling back into old habits:
✔ Checking messages while pushing code.
✔ Wanting to read emails while on a Zoom call.
But now, I notice it.
I stop.
I refocus.
I’m done with the chaos.