Why You Should Focus on Single Tasking

Picture this: Dave, a modern-day professional, immerses himself in the hustle and bustle of daily tasks, darting from one activity to another, each demanding a slice of his fragmented attention. Hold on, scratch that. Let’s not romanticize the gritty reality of multitasking. It’s not an art, it’s not a skill. It's a scientifically documented pitfall. Let's talk facts. According to a study from the University of London, multitasking can drop your IQ as much as a night without sleep. That's not a badge of honour, that's a red flag waving vehemently, screaming for attention. Here’s another: a report published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology highlights that multitasking can reduce productivity by as much as 40%. That’s not just a dip, it's a cliff, a dangerous drop into the abyss of inefficiency. Think of your brain as a computer processor. When you overload it with too many programs running simultaneously, what happens? It slows down, lags, and sometimes crashes. The human brain, despite its complexity, operates on a similar principle. We are not built for simultaneous processing. We are built for focus, for dedicated engagement with one task at a time. But Dave is relentless, right? He bounces from emails to meetings, from spreadsheets to Slack notifications, a relentless pinball in the arcade of modern business chaos. Wrong move, Dave. Because with each switch, Dave pays a tax, a "switching cost" that drains cognitive resources and time. It’s like driving with a foot on the brake – a surefire recipe for burnout and decreased output. Steve Jobs didn’t rise to the pinnacle by scatter-gunning his focus. His genius lay in the relentless pursuit of perfection, in doing one thing, doing it extraordinarily well, and then moving on to the next. So, here’s the hard-hitting reality: Multitasking is not a skill to be honed; it's a mirage to be avoided. In the realm of business and entrepreneurial excellence, it's time to dismantle the multitasking myth, to discard it like the outdated relic it is. We need a shift, a radical refocusing of our energies. Because the future belongs not to the busiest, but to the focused, to those who can navigate the noise and hone in on what truly matters. Remember Dave? Tomorrow, Dave opts for a change. He decides to embrace unitasking, giving each task his undivided attention, nurturing it to completion without the cacophony of modern-day distractions. And as the day winds down, Dave realizes a profound truth: Multitasking was the greatest con of the modern business world. No more divided focus, no more fractured efforts. Do one thing, do it well, then move to the next. In the quest for excellence, it’s not about juggling tasks but mastering focus. One focused step at a time, onto a path less chaotic and more productive.

Leaders waste more energy on divided focus than any other activity. I learned this the hard way in the SEAL Teams. During a training evolution, I was juggling radio communications, coordinating multiple teams, and making split-second calls. And I wasn’t doing any of it well. My commanding officer pulled me aside: "Mac, you're everywhere and nowhere. Focus or you'll miss the critical moment." He was right. I was spread so thin I couldn't see the patterns emerging right in front of me. This isn't just a military problem. I see it daily with my executive clients: → Scanning emails during strategy discussions → Mentally rehearsing a presentation while their team shares crucial updates → Attention bouncing between five urgent problems, solving none completely The cost isn't just productivity. Your leadership presence evaporates. Your team's trust erodes. In high-performance environments, attention isn't just a resource. It's your competitive advantage. When you focus fully: → You notice micro-expressions that signal team tension → You spot connections between seemingly unrelated data points → You make decisions from clarity rather than reaction Most leaders know this. Few practice it consistently. The difference isn't knowledge, it's discipline. The solution isn't complicated: 1. Practice intentional monotasking. Whatever deserves your attention deserves your FULL attention. 2. Create attention boundaries. Block time for deep work with zero notifications. 3. Build a daily mindfulness practice. Even 5 minutes trains your focus muscle. 4. Batch-process inputs. Schedule specific times for email and updates rather than letting them hijack your entire day. In my 17+ years as a SEAL, the leaders I trusted most weren't just the smartest or toughest. They were the ones who could maintain complete presence amidst chaos. They showed up fully. Their attention wasn't divided. Their focus created a gravity that pulled teams together. What deserves your full attention today? ——— Follow me (Jon Macaskill ) for leadership insights, wellness tools, and real stories about humans being good humans. And feel free to repost if someone in your life needs to hear this. 📩 Subscribe to my newsletter here → https://lnkd.in/g9ZFxDJG You'll get FREE access to my 21-Day Mindfulness & Meditation Course with real, actionable strategies.

How To Actually Focus in a World Designed to Break You: The Hard Focus Truth: 1. Biological Reality: • Your brain isn't broken • It's running ancient software • In a dopamine casino • Fighting notification warfare 2. The Real Enemy: Not distractions, but: • Infinite scroll designed by PhDs • Apps built to hijack attention • Platforms engineered for addiction • Systems optimized to break focus 3. The Money Truth: • Your distraction = Their revenue • Your focus = Their loss • Your attention = Their product • Your time = Their profit The Battle Plan That Actually Works: 1. Environment Design: • Phone in another room • Notifications = Death • Airplane mode = Life • Single task = Victory 2. Focus Mathematics: • 45 mins deep work • 10 mins reset • Zero multitasking • One task murdered 3. Energy Management: • Hard tasks = Morning brain • Meetings = Afternoon brain • Email = Tired brain • Strategy = Fresh brain 4. The Real Productivity Stack: • Water bottle = Focus fuel • Good sleep = Brain upgrade • Exercise = Mental clarity • Clean food = Energy stability Why Most Focus Advice Fails: • Willpower isn't enough • Motivation is temporary • Discipline alone dies • Systems survive The Brutal Truth: You're not lazy. You're fighting a billion-dollar war Against companies built to break your focus. Start treating it like warfare: • Build your bunker • Protect your mind • Guard your time • Win your day (Currently focusing long enough to finish this pos... oh look, a notification!) #ProductivityTruth #NoBS