Escaping the Snare of Multitasking
By Thandi Chindove
I am a third-generation workaholic. Throughout my life I watched my grandmother and my mother work tirelessly in their communal and professional obligations. Like so many of us, I fall into the trap of multitasking––believing that if I can cram as many action items as possible into every waking second then, by the time I reach the end of the day, I will feel a sense of accomplishment.
Rather than feeling productive, excessive multitasking can give the impression that every moment is filled with chaos, leaving an insatiable longing for stillness and peace. My to-do list seems to go on endlessly like the infinite scroll of an Instagram feed. I find myself overwhelmed by demands from my studies, friends, family, and personal commitments, all in between worrying about finding a job or remembering that I need to buy toothpaste and dog food. Instead of feeling accomplished at the end of the day, I collapse onto my bed at night feeling exhausted––only to repeat the process the next day. The list never quite seems to get shorter, but my energy reserves run dry as I try to get it all done.
Multitasking is a faux-productivity trap that has somehow become embedded in the defining characteristics of ‘woman.’ This expectation, though unfounded and arguably unfair, persists in our society. Tracing the word back to its original meaning, multitasking is an IT term describing how computers run multiple programs simultaneously. Somewhere along the line, people began to encourage attempts at imitating this technological process to become more productive.
This secular virtue is held as one of the standards of success, but a Google search will show numerous studies, reports, and books revealing that multitasking is not the key to productivity that we seek. In his book, The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done, Dave Crenshaw points out that even computers are unable to multitask; in reality, they switch between tasks so efficiently that it appears to be happening all at once. He writes, “Studies have shown that on average, each person loses about 28 percent of the workday due to interruptions and inefficiencies. Multitasking—or switchtasking—is probably the biggest culprit.” Ironically, we find ourselves attempting to succeed at something impossible for the very device which warranted the term.
Research conducted by the University of Sussex revealed that constant multitasking can lower brain density in the region responsible for empathy, cognitive function, and emotional regulation. Another study by Stanford University addressed how multitasking can negatively impact the brain’s ability to make and retrieve memories. As opposed to allowing us to end the day feeling accomplished, we’re left with overworked minds and frustration for leaving so much undone.
Multitasking can become a vice which draws us away from God. It can be much harder to hear His voice when our attention is fixed on every other thing that needs to be done. Our Lord says to us, “Be still and know that I am God” but this simple request is unattractive to me because in my eyes it will not help me to be productive (Psalm 46:11). I would much rather it read, “Answer your emails, walk the dog, finish that podcast episode, and know that I am God.” At its worst, what is implicitly stated through excessive multitasking is that everything appears important without us investing the presence of mind to validate its importance. It does us no good if we are so consumed by doing what we have been tasked with, that we leave no space for God to work with us.
When life becomes a whirlwind of tasks, I find the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit convicting me, His voice cuts through the noise of anxiety and frustration. I hear Him reminding me to be still. Most often, stillness is exactly what I crave but a mountain of tasks means that, even when I make the time to stop, I can feel the internal panic building up, urging me to get back to work. I treat stillness as though it is optional, equatable to having a salad with my meal.
When I imagine true stillness, I picture the Garden of Eden. Rolling hills and gently running streams. Birds chirping in the background and animals sunning themselves or munching on grass. I think of our first parents, Adam and Eve, before the Fall and wonder how much easier things must have been for them. Work has existed from the beginning with God giving them authority over all of creation and calling them to be stewards of the earth (Genesis 1:28-30). Working and serving others faithfully glorifies God; overworking robs us of the opportunity to love others through our work.
The answer to overworking is to give oneself time to do those tasks well. There is no shame in slowing down. Instead of trying to execute multiple tasks at once, it is healthier to focus on one, being completely present and giving yourself fully to the task. In time, a rhythm will form internally and externally as you honour the work of your hands and respect the time your task requires, submitting it as an offering to God. If we can offer our work to God in the same way we offer a gift to a loved one, carefully and thoughtfully, we create something of higher quality while recognizing our internal desire for peace. The Eden within us stays serene and orderly, regardless of what external whirlwinds we may be trying to work through.
In the move away from multitasking, I hold close the verse: “Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others” (Colossians 3:23). When I am drowning in my to-dos, I have unintentionally pushed God to the side. However, when I make time to slow down, I return Him to His throne; I surrender my desire for efficiency and accomplishment and chip away at each task, one at a time, trusting that they will get done.
Grace and peace of mind is found in accepting our humanity and taking the time we need to fulfill our responsibilities. There is enough time for everything and, when that time is respected, the next thing will not be neglected. By better managing time, each task will receive the full attention it needs. Thus, the question we must repeatedly ask ourselves is, “What is most important to do at this moment?”
When I reflect on my childhood, my most cherished memories are those where I knew that I had my mother’s full attention: when she put aside everything that called for her time or attention and, instead, listened to my stories or worked with me in the garden. We are most productive when we are fully present and when we are fully present, we are better able to fully love.
