Heard this on NPR this morning. I was interested in what he had to say about multitasking (you can't), and short-term memory (you don't remember as much as you think you can).
Also, you might enjoy his description of his office. It will never be a workspace-of-the-week on Unclutterer. But he argues that it is organized, in a way that is useful to him.
All in all, interesting stuff.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125005439
I heard the same report! In my job I am constantly changing actions and trying to multitask which does not work well according to the author. I agree. i think even just grouping chores together ex phone calls, email etc would help. He says his office is full of piles and sticky notes but he does do a weekly review of the piles to edit them.
Thanks for posting that link, HappyDogs! That was interesting!
I've never been good at multitasking! I have to concentrate on one thing at a time, or I just spin my wheels.
Claycat, many people would argue that NO ONE can multitask well. You can read more here:
http://jdorganizer.blogspot.com/2008/10/wanted-those-mythical-multitasking.html
HappyDogs, here's another "thank you" for that link. I'm interested in reading the guy's book; I've been tempted to buy it, but so far I'm holding out for getting a copy from the library. (There are no excerpts available on Amazon or elsewhere, which makes it harder to go for the purchase.)
I taught for decades! Believe you me, I can multi-task- well! ;o)
LOL, terriok! Maybe that's why I had so much trouble teaching.
And what mother doesn't multi-task? Change a diaper, answer the phone, let the dog out, etc. Or...let's see....try putting a Thanksgiving dinner on the table (with all the food getting done at the same time) without multi-tasking!
I think a man must have come up with this. From my observation they tend to be more linear thinkers than women.
@klyla & @terriok I thought that too, but now I think it's more serial-single-tasking than anything. At least for things that require thought. Letting the dog out doesn't need much cpu, but talking on the phone, following a new recipe, and helping with the math homework all at once? I don't think anyone can really do that.
I guess it's all in what you define as a task. Me, I'm typing and running some db queries right now but the typing doesn't need much thought once I've composed the sentence...rihtgt? ;)
LOL@HappyDogs!
Touché!
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