6-Focus+on+One+Thing+at+a+Time

toc ** Dangers of Multitasking and Review of Good Time & Materials Management ** = = = = = = = media type="youtube" key="dlZf2E9Iaxw" height="344" width="425" = As a driver, it is obvious that focusing on the road can save lives. As a student, it may seem less obvious that focusing on one thing at a time can save time AND improve your memory for what you learn. Many people multi-task to make sure they keep up with the pace of their busy lives. It can be hard to avoid distractions and stay focused. Challenge yourself to focus on one task at a time and you will actually have more time for activities that you enjoy.
 * Believe It or Not: Focusing on One Thing at a Time Really Saves Time **

Avoid Multitasking
You might do a lot of multitasking during your day. But multitasking can hurt your productivity. Whenever you switch to a new task and then switch back to the task you were working on, it takes time to figure out where you left off.

In an article titled “The Grand Seduction of Multitasking” on abcnews.go.com, it says “Microsoft studied its own employees and found it takes workers interrupted by e-mail or instant messages around 15 minutes to get back into their work groove."

When you add up those minutes during the day, it results in a lot of time lost.

Multitasking can also hurt the quality of your work. When you do multiple tasks at once, the quality of your work on each individual task is lower.

For instance, trying to solve complicated math problems while watching TV is ineffective. It'll take you much longer to solve the problems because solving complex math problems needs your full attention. And the quality of your solutions may suffer.

To avoid multitasking, make sure to do one thing at a time and stick to the task at hand. Turn off your cell phone. Avoid using an instant messenger while you work. And turn off your email alerts. This will keep you from switching back and forth from one thing to another.

Also, make sure the task you're working on is the only thing you're doing. Don't watch TV at the same time, listen to the radio, surf the web, or talk on the phone while you're working on your task.

Discovery Tasks

 * 1) Read [|The Perils of Kids Multitasking: When Kids are Plugged In, How Much Sinks In?]
 * 2) Watch this video on [|How to Multitask Effectively - Multitasking Tips]
 * 3) Email Ms. Flannery and your advisor a list of three strategies that you will use to work more efficiently.

= = **List of Sources** __Content__ //Avoid Multitasking to Use Your Time Efficiently// by Francis Lui //The Perils of Multitasking: When kids are plugged in, how much sinks in?// by Margery D. Rosen  __Videos__ //Cool Multitasking Commercial with Dennis Haysbert// by ThatsAllStatesStand //How to Multitask Effectively - Multitasking tips// by HowdiniGuru