Why You Should Focus on One Thing At A Time

Multitasking, dividing your attention to complete multiple projects at once, is often perceived to get more done. However, this practice can compromise the quality of your work. Instead of increasing the quantity of jobs performed, you may find that you’re sacrificing the quality of each task.

During my career, I learned early that multitasking, while comfortable for me, was not the best path for growth or success. Ideas that were not wholly thought through were questioned heavily or even rejected. I also learned that family members were not very pleased when I would be trying to hold a conversation with them and still do stuff on my desk or computer.

The result is hurting your productivity and possibly relationships, as you shift focus from one task to another without being fully attentive to any single one. Instead, here is why you should only focus on one thing at a time.

Things get done!

The best part about doing one thing at a time is that it gets things done. When you focus all your attention and energy on one thing, you ensure that the task will get done and that it will be done on time. This sense of accomplishment can be deeply fulfilling. For you to accomplish any task, you need to have excessive focus. The thing about focus is that it gets diverted easily if there are more things on your mind.

When you do one thing at a time, your focus is only on that one task, which gets done promptly. This approach brings a sense of control and order to your work instead of the chaos of trying to do three things simultaneously. When your focus is divided, you cannot do any of them effectively.

It allows for fewer mistakes.

Everyone who does more than one thing at a time should know there is a greater chance of error when you do more things simultaneously. On the other hand, when you give your undivided attention to one thing only, you can do it with much more accuracy. Multitasking is switching between tasks, and when it boils down to concentration and productivity, the brain only has a limited amount.

A typical example is people using their cell phones while driving. Since you are not focusing only on one thing, there is a massive margin for error. This phenomenon can be seen even in less impacting issues such as texting. If you text four or five people simultaneously, you will likely send the wrong thing to the wrong person. For this reason, you need to keep your focus on one thing only.

It’s not just about completing tasks but about doing them to the best of your ability with minimal errors. To achieve this, it’s crucial to concentrate on one task at a time and avoid overwhelming yourself with many tasks.

Higher success rate

Focusing on one thing at a time gives you a better chance of succeeding at something. This applies not only to businesses or entrepreneurs but also to everyday situations. People who try to do only one thing at a time are likelier to be attentive than those who try to do everything simultaneously.

In the same way, the probability of success is higher if you focus on one thing at a time. Businesses tend to focus on one thing for the time being, such as making their marketing more efficient or increasing employee productivity, instead of trying to do all these things simultaneously. It is impossible to juggle many things simultaneously, so taking one step at a time is the best approach.

It does not deplete energy.

If you habitually do many things simultaneously, you will always be tired and lack energy. This is why it is better to focus on one thing instead of trying to go for three or four things. The human brain may be like a machine in terms of functionality, but it has the human character of tiredness.

It gets tired after long hours of activity or doing many things simultaneously. When you try to do a lot of things at once, you put a lot of strain on the brain. As a result, the body’s energy reserves are exploited, decreasing energy levels.

You might feel that you can do many things simultaneously, but the truth is that the internal functioning of your body is not entirely visible to you. So, you cannot know how an activity is harming the inside of your body.

If you focus on one thing at a time, you can direct your brain to do the same thing for a precise period. When your brain only must accomplish one task at a time, it can function more effectively. However, if you are trying to cook, clean, and write an essay simultaneously, the brain and body will have difficulty keeping up with your activity levels.

If your work involves physical work, it can also tire out your body. When the body is inactive, you cannot focus on a task to make it more successful. When your glucose levels run out, your body’s function also decreases.

It keeps distractions away.

Another benefit of doing one thing at a time is that it keeps distractions at bay. When you try to do more than one task at a time, you will find your brain wandering off to the other task that needs to be done. Using the example mentioned above, if you are trying to cook but your brain is constantly focused on the content you need for your essay, it is not unlikely that you will be successful in any of your tasks.

You may be able to cook and finish your essay, but the essay will not be the best you have ever written, and the cooking will not be satisfactory. When you focus all your attention and concentration on one thing, you can easily accomplish your task, as your brain only thinks of the current task.

It lets you enjoy work.

Let’s admit it. If you try to juggle too many things at once, you will not be able to enjoy any of them. Just imagine writing emails while having dinner. You will be unable to enjoy your dinner due to distractions and probably make mistakes in your emails.

Similarly, you cannot enjoy it if you do not focus on one thing at a time at work or while studying. Many people want to leave their jobs because they are trying to manage many tasks simultaneously and getting frustrated. When you start doing one thing at a time, the process will be more enjoyable and easier to accomplish, reducing stress and increasing your sense of ease.

If you do not take time to make decisions daily, the multitasking demands will frustrate you and eventually lead to a mental void because there is no clear path to success.

Ultimately, multitasking is very unproductive. Lower-quality work is produced, more mistakes are made, and time and effort are wasted. You find yourself making excuses for the errors, missed deadlines, or poor quality of the work.