A Surprisingly Effective Alternative to Multi-tasking Artwork

Positively Living®: Shame-Free Productivity Conversations

The Positively Living® Podcast brings you shame-free productivity conversations for the overwhelmed multi-passionate creatives, caregivers, and multi-taskers who never clock out, juggle countless responsibilities, and quietly wonder if there's a better way.

Hosted by Lisa Zawrotny, Productivity Coach and founder of Positively Productive Systems, the show replaces rigid productivity rules with flexible approaches that respect your energy and priorities. Through solo episodes, expert interviews, and live coaching sessions, Lisa covers the topics that actually affect your ability to move forward: stress management, habits and systems, decluttering, self-awareness, boundaries, mindset, entrepreneurship, and more.

This is productivity for real life, helping you breathe easier, move forward sustainably, and make space for what matters most to you.

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Positively Living®: Shame-Free Productivity Conversations

A Surprisingly Effective Alternative to Multi-tasking

September 25, 2023 • Lisa Zawrotny • Episode 176

0:00 | 15:11

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Multi-tasking is the idea of doing two things at once and it’s a myth because you can’t actually focus on two things at once. Now before you tell me everything you’ve done at the same time and how it’s on your resume because your boss required it, so it must be true…hear me out.

This week, episode 176 of the Positively Living Podcast is about a surprisingly effective alternative to multitasking!

What we consider to be multitasking is really “task switching.” And you might be brilliant at it. And many employers expect it regularly, which irks me, but it’s not a battle I can fight now.

With task switching, your brain shifts from one kind of focus to another, and if you have strong executive brain functions, you can do it in such a way that it seems simultaneous. However, even if you’re quite amazing at it, frequent task-switching is inherently problematic.

I discuss:

What multi-tasking is and how we’re trained to think it works.
Why multi-tasking doesn't work for most multi-passionates.
A more effective alternative to multi-tasking.
Examples of task combining and how to use it every day.

Strategic task combining is not a foolproof technique, but it is still far superior to task switching.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Positively Living and Lisa at https://positivelyproductive.com/podcast/

If you’re a DIY dynamo looking for simplicity and productivity support, you’ll find it in the Positively Productive Resources Vault. It’s packed with the worksheets, checklists, workbooks, and recordings I use with clients. Go to http://www.positivelyproductive.com/podcastvault where the promo code PODCAST will give you a special listener discount.

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Ep 174: Why Multi-Passionates Need a Unique Productivity Strategy

Dance Song Playlist V1, V2, V3

Music by Ian and Jeff Zawrotny

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