Spoiler alert: My brain didn’t explode, but something kind of magical did happen.
I thought I was a productivity queen—until I realized I was just busy and frazzled.
Multitasking used to be my default setting.
Emails while listening to a podcast.
Folding laundry while planning next week’s content.
Answering Slack messages during Zoom calls.
I’ve talked about multitasking being a myth before—I know deep down single-tasking is the way to go—but let's be real: old habits die hard. When life gets chaotic, autopilot kicks in, and suddenly I'm bouncing between tasks again, feeling scattered AF.
So last week, I challenged myself to reset:
No multitasking.
Just one task at a time. Fully present. Zero bouncing between tabs, devices, and to-do lists.
Here’s what happened.
Day 1: The Twitching Begins
My fingers hovered over my phone while I typed an email.
My brain screamed, “Check Instagram!”
I didn’t.
Instead, I finished the email. Start to finish. Without switching screens.
It took… less time than usual?
And the message was clearer. I didn’t have to re-read it five times to see if it made sense.
Day 3: My Brain Finally Stopped Having 27 Tabs Open
By midweek, something unexpected happened.
I felt less scattered.
I wasn’t constantly switching mental gears or staring at half-finished sentences wondering where I left off.
Even my planner looked happier (she’s a Libra, she appreciates order).
I started blocking chunks of time for single tasks using my Workday Planner.
-
Emails from 9–9:30
-
Writing from 10–11
-
Packing orders after lunch
This structure? It worked.
I didn’t feel behind. I wasn’t rushing. I wasn’t snapping at my family for “talking while I was trying to do three things at once.”
Day 5: I Finally Finished That One Thing I Kept Putting Off
You know that one task that’s always on your list but never gets done?
(You’re probably thinking of it right now.)
I tackled mine on Day 5.
I had a full hour of undivided focus—and I got it done.
Turns out, it wasn’t even that hard. It just needed my actual attention.
Wild, right?
What I Learned (and Honestly, Already Knew) About Multitasking
Multitasking makes you feel productive, but it actually slows you down.
I was spending more time switching tasks than doing them.
When I gave myself permission to do one thing at a time:
✅ I got more done
✅ My brain felt calmer
✅ My planner actually matched my reality
How to Try This Without Going Off the Grid
You don’t have to throw your phone in a lake. Start here:
🔹 Pick 3 things to focus on each day. Write them down. No more than three.
🔹 Block 30–60 minutes for deep work. Protect it like it's your iced coffee.
🔹 Mute notifications. Yes, even Teams/Slack. You’ll be fine.
🔹 Try a planning tool that supports this. (Hi, The Workday Planner 👋 It was literally made for this.)
Final Thoughts: Multitasking Is Out. Focus Is In.
If you’re feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or just done—try single-tasking.
It’s not always easy, but it’s way more effective.
You don’t need to do more things.
You need to do the right things—and actually finish them.
✍️ Want help picking your daily top 3?
Snag my free Daily Focus Worksheet and start organizing your day like a pro—without the multitasking chaos.
