Ok so I'm going to try and avoid the debate about whether or not men can do it and focus rather on how it can be done and why its easier than you think. Follow me on this one, everything that you do is a process which is made up of steps and each step in the process takes a designated time to complete. The problem that non-multi-taskers (hey is that a word?) have is that they assume that while a step is being completed that they must remain 'faithful' to that process and make sure that it happens on time and the way that it should. Let me explain. Using the example from a previous blog of making tea, when you put the kettle on, you can stand there and wait for it to boil or you can fetch the cup, put the tea bag in and maybe grab the milk. Hey presto you are now multi-tasking. Granted it is within a single process but you have now moved from only boiling the water to completing other meaningful tasks related to the process of making coffee.
The trick now is how to then extend this to cover more than one process. So, you could, if you really wanted to, do the following:
- Switch the kettle on
- Put a tea bag in cup
- Go and auto tune the rugby, and
- Fetch a jersey to put on
An individual who has trained themselves properly would be able return a phone call as part of this list. Congratulations your multi-tasking now covers more than one process.
You will however notice that there are some key requirement for any of this to work. One of the requirements is that some of the tasks you complete must be self managing (i.e. they take care of themselves, when the kettle has finished boiling it switches itself off), and one or more of the tasks must be a non-thinking exercise. In order for something to be a non-thinking exercise it needs to be a strong part of your routine, routine removes all elements of concentration, it allows you and the body to complete an exercise without really thinking. Things like kicking a ball, swinging a club, putting the washing machine on. All of these, if they form a strong part of your routine will become automatic and allow you to focus on other things that you can do at the same time, where you would need to concentrate more. The last and probably most difficult type of multi-tasking and this if for black-belts only, is the use of two senses. An example of this is to talk on the phone and auto-tune the rugby. This is because it requires you to process to different types of information, visual and auditory. The key to this is to remain focused, or keep your eye on the ball so to speak. While auto-tuning don't get distracted by anything else that you see on the schedule, just go where you want to and auto-tune the show. If yourself to be distracted you will transfer some of the attention or concentration from the phone call to the tuning and then you're lost.
Ok so I said I would avoid the gender discussion but I lied. The majority of women have very strict schedules that they follow which you could set you clock by (except choosing what to wear in the morning that's a life mystery), they have to because they have so many things to do. But they're unconsciously training themselves to multi-task. While your wife is putting stuff in the washing machine or dish washer she is making a call and deciding on what to have for lunch while she waits for the person to pick up. She is using her automation levels as well as the time it takes to complete steps to get things done and use her time optimally.
I managed to type this and drink a cup of coffee at the same time, does that count?
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