Become a Focused Monotasker

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Jan 5, 2022

Thatcher Wine, author of "The Twelve Monotasks," champions the art of monotasking as a path to enhanced productivity and reduced stress. He debunks the multitasking myth, explaining how focusing on one task at a time can elevate work quality. The conversation highlights the importance of mindful activities like walking and reading, showcasing how they boost clarity and attention. Thatcher encourages listeners to strip distractions from daily tasks and cultivate their "monotasking muscles" to reclaim focus and improve overall well-being.

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ADVICE

Task Switching vs. Background Tasking

Recognize that "multitasking" is actually task-switching, rapidly shifting between tasks.
Differentiate task-switching from combining a primary task with an automatic background task.

ADVICE

Embrace Your Limits

Accept that humans are finite and can't do everything at once.
Focus on doing what you can in a day without striving for the impossible.

ADVICE

Benefits of Monotasking

Monotasking boosts productivity, reduces stress, and increases happiness.
Being fully present in each task improves relationships and overall well-being.

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Writing an email while on a Zoom call. Talking on the phone while walking. Scrolling through social media while watching a movie.

In both our work and our play, we're all doing more and more multitasking. Doing two things at once makes us feel as if we're more efficient and getting more done.

But my guest would say that all this task juggling actually makes us less productive, while diminishing the quality of our work and stressing our minds, and that we'd be better off curbing our multitasking in favor of monotasking. His name is Thatcher Wine and he's the author of The Twelve Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to Do Everything Better. Today on the show, Thatcher explains the illusions around multitasking and the benefits of monotasking — that is, bringing our full focus to a single task at a time. We discuss why reading is a foundational part of becoming a monotasker, and then get into some of the other activities Thatcher recommends monotasking, including walking, listening, traveling/commuting, and thinking. Thatcher argues that doing things like listening to a podcast while cleaning your house isn't necessarily a bad thing, but that you may want to try stripping everything away from your daily tasks except the primary tasks themselves to observe the resulting effect and to strengthen your "monotasking muscles" and rebuild your attention span. Once you've experimented with doing a task alone, you can then decide to layer back in the second activity, or, maybe decide you actually liked giving it your all.

Resources Related to the Podcast

AoM podcast episodes with Cal Newport on Deep Work and Digital Minimalism
AoM podcast with Oliver Burkenan on Time Management for Mortals
AoM podcast with Nicolas Carr on how the internet affects our minds and attention
AoM series on how to improve your listening
AoM article on the benefits of being fully present
AoM article on working when you work, and playing when you play

Connect with Thatcher Wine

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